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What went right for Alabama to reach the playoff

Remember when Nick Saban didn’t believe Alabama should be ranked No. 1?

It was July, and Saban thought Clemson was more worthy of being the favorite to win the College Football Playoff.

His reasoning: Deshaun Watson.

Saban called the junior quarterback the most dominant player since Cam Newton.

“I don’t care who we start at quarterback,” Saban said. “He ain’t going to be that good.”

Saban wasn’t necessarily wrong, seeing as Watson finished second in the Heisman race with 43 touchdowns.

At the time, Saban couldn’t tell you who his QB would be.