USA Today Sports' Dan Wolken recaps Alabama's 38-0 win over Michigan State in the Cotton Bowl to advance to the College Football Playoff final. USA TODAY Sports
ARLINGTON, Texas — Roughly 90 minutes before kickoff back on Sept. 19, word began filtering through Bryant-Denny Stadium that Alabama was going to make a quarterback change. Cooper Bateman was in and Jake Coker, the assumed starter who had yet to fully win the confidence of Alabama's coaching staff, was out for a game against Ole Miss that would become the crossroads of the Crimson Tide's season.