NEW ORLEANS — Alabama coach Nick Saban gave his players a history lesson after they learned they’d been left out of the College Football Playoff and would instead meet Kansas State in the Sugar Bowl.
The past two times the Crimson Tide played in New Orleans on the heels of similar disappointments, it didn’t go well.
“That was kind of the first thing that Coach Saban discussed” when bowl practices commenced earlier this month in Tuscaloosa, offensive lineman Emil Ekiyor Jr. said. “The attitude of this team has been completely opposite of the attitude that he explained that those teams had.”
The 2008 Crimson Tide were favored against Utah in the Sugar Bowl that season but lost by two touchdowns. The 2013 squad was also favored in the Sugar Bowl but lost — again, by two touchdowns — to Oklahoma.
This time, No. 5 Alabama (10-2) heads into Saturday’s game favored by 6 1/2 points over No. 11 Kansas State (10-3), according to Fanduel Sportsbook.