Nick Saban Explains Alabama’s Rose Bowl Snap Issues, Plan on Failed Final Play

Alabama's compelling 27–20 loss to Michigan in the Rose Bowl on Monday demands an extensive postmortem. That is what Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban provided on ESPN’s The Pat McAfee Show on Thursday afternoon.

First, Saban made headlines by revealing Alabama was thrown off by the Wolverines' huddling—something the Crimson Tide had not seen all season.

Then, the legendary coach undertook a more thorough explanation of a shortcoming that haunted Alabama throughout the game—repeated bad snaps.

"Michigan was not clapping, but our center was thinking someone was making a noise that sounded like a clap and he was snapping the ball early sometimes," Saban said.

Saban on the snapping: "Michigan was not clapping, but our center was thinking someone was making a noise that sounded like a clap and he was snapping the ball early sometimes."

— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) January 4, 2024

The center, Seth McLaughlin, formally entered the transfer portal Thursday afternoon.

Saban also noted that a bad snap hindered the Crimson Tide's disastrous final play in their Rose Bowl loss, in addition to a much-discussed sequence in the third quarter where bad snaps cost Alabama 19 yards in two plays.

"It wasn't a great snap ... now you don't have your eyes up, so it makes it harder (for quarterback Jalen Milroe) to make those kinds of cuts," Saban said. "That's something that's been a little bit of an issue for us all year long."

"It wasn't a great snap and that makes it harder for Jalen Milroe to make a cut..

That's been a little bit of an issue for us all season long and that's a huge issue for the Quarterback" ~ Coach Saban #PMSLive https://t.co/pCuMhi0i1B pic.twitter.com/O6x3radKgu

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 4, 2024