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Week 14 in college football in Championship Week.
Alabama takes on Florida trying to win its second straight SEC Championship. North Carolina challenges Clemson for the ACC Championship.
Stanford battles UCLA in the Pac-12 Championship Game, and Iowa faces Michigan State in its first Big Ten Championship Game appearance.
Here’s what Power 5 coaches had to say about their teams’ respective games this weekend:
Nick Saban, Alabama: “This is an outstanding team that we’re playing,” Saban said. “They wouldn’t be in the SEC championship game if they weren’t. I think anybody out there that thinks this is not going to be a real challenge and a real test for our team, I don’t know what you’re thinking. I don’t know what you’re thinking. I really don’t get it.”
Jim McElwain, Florida: “You need to look a little bit at me and what I’m asking him to do as well, and trying to push the envelope a little bit,” McElwain said of Florida starting QB Treon Harris. “That’s how we’re going to be offensively as we continue to grow. He’s probably handled and done as good a job with his skill set as far as helping some of those things moving forward. Yet, he’s learning. He’s there, he’s engaged. He’s our quarterback and I’m glad he’s our quarterback.”
Dabo Swinney, Clemson: “We’ve embraced the opportunity,” Swinney said. “There’s no pressure. Pressure comes when you’re not prepared. We’re prepared. We prepare every week.”
Larry Fedora, North Carolina: “This is best football team we’ve have faced,” Fedora said of Clemson. “I mean, they’re the No. 1 team in the country. And they’ve been that way for how many weeks? So they’re really good.”
Kirk Ferentz, Iowa: “I just can’t imagine whoever wins this ball game not being in the playoffs,” Ferentz said. “But no matter what happens, it won’t diminish what both teams have accomplished.”
Mark Dantonio, Michigan State: “They come to play every game,” Dantonio said. “Iowa, they always had a workmanlike attitude. They always went to work, they always played people tough, they always seemed to win consistently. They were very well-coached, their players played very firm up front on both sides of the ball. That’s who we wanted to be.”
Clay Helton, Southern Cal: “I think about the seniors and the roller coaster ride they have gone through, for them to be able to call themselves Pac-12 South champions is a victory,” Helton said.
David Shaw, Stanford: “He has got some scars,” Shaw said of Cardinal starting QB Kevin Hogan. “I think scars are good. They help you learn. He speaks from a position of experience and the guys listen to him. He doesn’t have to yell and scream. When he talks, guys listen because he’s been around, he’s seen it, he’s done it and he’s out there fighting and scrapping with the rest of them.”
Stan Chrapowicki is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers SEC football, Alabama and Auburn.
