Alabama football is back in the College Football Playoff for the eighth time in 10 years. Nick Saban has once again worked his coaching magic, perhaps doing his best job this season.

“They’re truly a team,” Saban said after Alabama’s SEC Championship victory. “Everybody’s together. Everybody trusts and respects the principles and values of the organization and program and buy into them. They’re all responsible for their own self-determination, which means they can go do their job.”‘

The No. 4 Crimson Tide (12-1) will face No. 1 Michigan (13-0) in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1.

While it has been a team effort and there are probably a dozen or more that could be highlighted, here are five of the key players that helped the 2023 Crimson Tide get back into position for another CFP run:

Jalen Milroe

Let’s go ahead and get the most obvious one out of the way. Even though football is a team sport, a lot of a team’s success starts and ends with the performance of the quarterback. And it was no different for Alabama with  Milroe this year. His transformation from the beginning of the season to the end has been nothing short of remarkable.

Milroe’s improvement is the main reason that Alabama has the opportunity to compete for a national title.