Jan. 2 (UPI) — The 2023-24 campaign was one of the “most amazing seasons in Alabama football history,” coach Nick Saban told reporters after a College Football Playoff semifinal loss to Michigan.
Saban made the comments after the No. 4 Tide lost to No. 1 Michigan in the Rose Bowl Game on Monday in Pasadena, Calif. The Tide held a 29-13 lead with 4:41 remaining before the Wolverines tied the score and won in overtime.
“We just didn’t finish the last 4 minutes of the game like we liked to,” Saban said at his postgame news conference at Rose Bowl Stadium. “We are all very disappointed and the players are disappointed as well.
“But one thing I told them in the locker room after the game was that this was one of the most amazing seasons in Alabama football history, in terms of where this team came from, what they were able to accomplish and what they were able to do. … I’m really really proud of this group.”
Monday’s game marked the Tide’s eighth semifinal appearance in 10 years. They won four national titles in the College Football Playoff era, which started in 2014.
The Tide (12-2), who haven’t lost more than two games in a season since 2010, lost to the Texas Longhorns in their second game of their 2023-24 campaign. That Sept. 9 setback was the earliest ever in a season for a Saban-led team at Alabama.
Alabama then won their next 10, advancing to the Southeastern Conference title game. There, they upset the top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs to advance to the College Football Playoff semifinal.
The Tide did not reach the Top 4 of the College Football Playoff rankings until the final week of the season. They ranked No. 8 in the initial rankings, which were released Oct. 31. They kept that spot in the next four revisions.
“I don’t look at it necessarily from winning and losing or you won the championship, you didn’t win the championship,” Saban said of the 2023-24 season. “As a coach, you are always trying to get your team to improve and be the best they can be.
“I think this team probably improved from the South Florida and Texas game early in the season as much as any team I’ve ever coached. That takes a lot of hard work, a lot of people being very committed to doing things they need to do to self assess and improve their game.
“All these players bought in on this team and did it in first-class fashion. That’s why, I think, it is one of the teams I’ll remember most and be the most proud of.”
The Tide averaged 34 points and 401.2 yards per game this season. They totaled just 288 yards and allowed six sacks in Monday’s loss.
“I just wish I could have done more as a coach to help them be successful, help them finish,” Saban said. “All we can do now is learn from the lessons that sometimes failings bring to us.
The No. 1 Wolverines will face the No. 3 Washington Huskies in the College Football Playoff finale on Monday at NRG Stadium in Houston. That game will air at 7:30 p.m. EST on ESPN.
A firefighter in Alexandria is being recognized for going above and beyond after helping a resident both during and after a medical emergency. According to the Alexandria Fire Department, crews responded to a medical call Saturday involving a person suffering from a heat-related illness while mowing their lawn. Firefighters arrived, assessed the patient and provided medical care before the individual was transported to a hospital for further evaluation. While on scene, Lieutenant Colton Brown noticed the resident’s lawn had only been partially mowed before the medical emergency occurred. Wanting to ease the burden on the patient and their family, Brown stayed behind and finished mowing the lawn so the resident would not have to worry about it when returning home. The Alexandria Fire Department praised Brown’s actions, saying his willingness to help reflects the dedication, compassion and commitment firefighters bring to the community every day.
Department officials thanked Brown for making a difference and helping someone during a difficult time.
Florida Dachshund puppy survives rattlesnake bite
Keeley, a dachshund puppy, was in her own backyard in April when she encountered a rattlesnake and was bitten in the face.
A rattlesnake sighting can turn an ordinary hike into a memorable story. But the snakes aren’t showing up by chance.
World Atlas recently identified seven rattlesnake-infested locations in Alabama where these reptiles are known to live, and each offers a mix of habitat features they seek for shelter, hunting and basking.
Rattlesnakes don’t really “infest” places so much as they move into landscapes that already work for them: quietly, predictably and usually out of sight.
In Alabama, that often means a familiar set of ingredients such as patches of forest that offer cover, sunny openings for warming up and nearby water that keeps prey species active.
Add in leaf litter, fallen logs, sandy soils, rocky edges or tangled undergrowth and you’ve got a system that supports both snakes and the small animals they feed on. The result is a kind of shared space of trail networks, river corridors, pine stands and canyon edges where people and rattlesnakes are simply using the same terrain for very different reasons.
According to Outdoor Alabama, three types of rattlesnakes can be found in the Yellowhammer State:
Each species differs in size and prevalence. The Eastern diamondback is the largest, reaching up to 7 feet, though most adults are 4 to 5 feet long, and is now uncommon and possibly threatened in the state. The pygmy rattlesnake is much smaller, at 15 to 24 inches, and includes three subspecies: the Carolina, dusky and western pygmy. The timber rattlesnake is the most common species in the state and ranges from 36 to 60 inches in length.
First rule: don’t panic.
Give snakes several feet of space and back away slowly. Never try to handle, capture or kill them — many bites happen when people try to intervene.
Even a snake that appears dead can still bite reflexively, so always leave it alone to avoid accidental bites.
Snake bites are rare, but they do happen. If it does, your response matters.
Act quickly, but stay as calm as possible:
Jennifer Lindahl is a Breaking and Trending Reporter in Alabama for USA TODAY’s Deep South Connect Team. Connect with her on X @jenn_lindahl and email at jlindahl@usatodayco.com.
Cord Rager pitched seven shutout innings and the OU baseball team rolled to a 9-0 win over seventh-seeded Alabama on Saturday in Omaha, Nebraska, in the largest shutout at the College World Series since 2002.
The Sooners (39-22) set the tone early with two runs in the first inning on Trey Gambill’s two-run double.
Catcher Deiten Lachance scored the first of those runs, limping home after having rolled his ankle earlier in the inning on second base. Lachance stayed in the game and scored twice more, including on his two-run home run in the sixth inning off Alabama starter Tyler Fay that gave the Sooners a 5-0 lead.
OU added four more runs in the eighth on Brendan Brock’s two-run double and Dasan Harris’ two-run single.
Rager allowed just three hits and struck out eight batters.
The Crimson Tide (42-20) will face the loser of Saturday night’s Georgia-Texas game on Monday afternoon in an elimination game.
Meanwhile, the Sooners will face Bulldogs-Longhorns winner at 6 p.m. Monday.
Watch Oklahoma vs Alabama baseball live with Fubo
| ▫ | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | – | F |
| OU | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | – | 9 |
| ALA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 |
LJ Mercurius works a second scoreless inning in relief as OU wraps up the largest shutout in the CWS since 2002.
The Sooners will face the Georgia-Texas winner at 6 p.m. Monday night in the winners’ bracket.
—Jeff Patterson, sports editor
Sam Mitchell retires the side on just 13 pitches for the Tide.
—Jeff Patterson, sports editor
Cord Rager’s day is over. After giving up a leadoff single, LJ Mercurius gets a strikeout and double play to get out of the inning.
—Jeff Patterson, sports editor
The Sooners bat around in the eighth, scoring four runs off Ashton Crowther and Evan Steckmesser.
Brendan Brock had a two-run double and Dasan Harris had a two-run single for the Sooners, who are cruising toward a Monday night showdown against either Texas or Georgia.
—Jeff Patterson, sports editor
Take a bow, Cord Rager.
The OU freshman left strikes out the side in what is likely his final inning in the CWS opener.
If he’s done, Rager’s final line will be seven shutout innings with just three hits, no walks and eight strikeouts.
—Jeff Patterson, sports editor
Ashton Crowther puts the Sooners down in order in relief of Tyler Fay, who gave up five runs and six hits in six innings.
—Jeff Patterson, sports editor
Cord Rager works around a one-out single from Bryce Fowler to make it through six scoreless innings on just 72 pitches. His ERA for the season has now dropped to 4.76.
—Jeff Patterson, sports editor
OU catcher Deiten Lachance rolled his ankle stepping on second base in the first inning, but there was no doubt that the former hockey player would be staying in the game. It’s a good thing he did. He smoked a two-run homer to left field off Tyler Fay to score Camden Johnson and extend the Sooners’ lead to 5-0.
—Jeff Patterson, sports editor
Freshman left-hander Cord Rager took the mound in the bottom of the fifth inning having not allowed a hit. Then the Crimson Tide ambushed him with back-to-back sharp singles. With runners on first and second with no outs, Rager induced a timely double play, started by first baseman Dayton Tockey. Rager got another ground-ball out to end the inning.
— Joe Mussatto, columnist
Alabama left fielder Eric Hines made a diving catch, robbing Jason Walk of a multi-base hit. Alabama pitcher Tyler Fay has settled in, keeping the Sooners off the scoreboard in consecutive innings.
— Joe Mussatto, columnist
Don’t tell anyone, but Cord Rager has held the Crimson Tide hitless through four innings. The Sooner lefty has been economical, only needing 46 pitches — 32 of which he’s thrown for strikes. Rager has only allowed one base runner, and that was on a hit by pitch.
— Joe Mussatto, columnist
Brendan Brock drew a one-out walk. Brock was caught stealing to end the inning. Alabama’s Tyler Fay finally got through an inning without allowing a hit.
— Joe Mussatto, columnist
OU pitcher Cord Rager hasn’t allowed a hit through three innings. Credit third baseman Camden Johnson for keeping the no-no alive. Johnson made a diving stop at third base before firing to first for the second out of the inning. Rager has only thrown 34 pitches.
— Joe Mussatto, columnist
Jason Walk walked to lead off the inning. Then he ran to second for a stolen base. OU’s leadoff man has reached in all three innings. Camden Johnson hit a sharp single to right field, giving the Sooners runners on the corners with no outs. Deiten Lachance grounded into a double play, scoring Walk. Lachance is still hobbling after turning his ankle in the top of the first. He had no hope of beating out the double play.
— Joe Mussatto, columnist
OU freshman Cord Rager already has four strikeouts — all of them coming off his curveball. Rager has only allowed one baserunner, and that was a hit by pitch.
— Joe Mussatto, columnist
Dasan Harris flew to first base, reaching on an infield single to lead off the inning. Alabama pitcher Tyler Fay struck out Dayton Tockey and got Kyle Branch to ground into a double play.
— Joe Mussatto, columnist
Sooner freshman Cord Rager started in a 1-0 hole before throwing his first pitch as he was called for a pitch-clock violation. No matter. Rager, a 6-foot-6 lefty, struck out the Alabama lead-off man. Rager recorded two strikeouts and induced a pop-up in an efficient opening frame.
— Joe Mussatto, columnist
The Sooners saw the ball well. Jason Walk and Jaxon Willits lined a pair of singles to center field. Deiten Lachance, who reached on a fielder’s choice, rolled his ankle when advancing to second base on Willits’ single. Trainers checked on Lachance, but he stayed in the game. He came around to score, but was not moving well. Senior Trey Gambill doubled to drive in Lachance and Willits. Looks like the scorching bats OU swung in the regional and super regional rounds traveled to Omaha.
— Joe Mussatto, columnist
Junior righty Tyler Fay (11-4, 4.37 ERA) gets the start on the mound for Alabama.
Freshman lefty Cord Rager (5-3, 5.20 ERA) gets the start on the mound for OU.
The Oklahoma Sooners and Alabama Crimson Tide will play in College World Series opener Saturday in Omaha, Nebraska.
The Oklahoma vs Alabama game will be broadcast on ESPN streamed on ESPN+.
The Sooners have posted a 6-1 record so far in the NCAA baseball tournament to reach their first College World Series since 2022.
Here’s how the bracket looks as of Sunday, June 7 (dates/times are TBD):
The 2026 NCAA baseball College World Series gets under way with two games at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska on Friday, June 12.
Here’s the full schedule for the CWS:
All times Central
Jeff Patterson is the sports editor for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Jeff? He can be reached at jpatterson@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @jeffpattOKC. Support Jeff’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
FBI says Russian hackers hijacked old Wi-Fi routers
Steven Spielberg’s ‘Disclosure Day’ takes the box office crown
Seth Rogen says he hasn’t spoken to James Franco and doesn’t plan to work with him
One of L.A.’s most personal theater experiences is disguised as a tarot reading
U.S. and Iran reach agreement to end war, Trump says
Oliver Tree, musician and Santa Cruz native, dies in helicopter crash
Once-dominant Dodgers bullpen unravels again in loss to White Sox
Claims Israel’s Beirut strike pushed Trump on Iran announcement
