Nick Saban provides update on health of Jase McClellan

The College Football Playoff semifinals are less than a week away. In the No. 1 vs. No. 4 matchup, the Michigan Wolverines will take on the Alabama Crimson Tide in the Rose Bowl. And on Wednesday, Alabama head coach Nick Saban provided a positive update on one of his key offensive players, running back Jase McClellan.

McClellan has been dealing with a foot injury since Alabama’s improbable come-from-behind victory over their heated in-state rivals, the Auburn Tigers. But will that foot injury keep him out of the Crimson Tide’s Rose Bowl matchup against the Wolverines, and how has the running back looked in practice this week? According to Saban, McClellan has looked great in practice and is on the right track to play against Michigan.

“Jase is doing great,” said Saban. “He practiced yesterday and today, so he looks good. We gave him a lot of time off to try and heal his foot, and it seems like it paid off. Barring some setback, the way he’s practiced, I don’t see why he wouldn’t play in the game.”

The last update Saban provided on McClellan was midway through December. Then, it was difficult for the Crimson Tide headman to say whether or not his running back would be good to go in time for the semifinal matchup. But now, with the highly anticipated matchup right around the corner, Saban feels confident that McClellan will be ready for action come Monday.

Saban, Miss Terry arrive at Rose Bowl welcome parade at Disneyland

After arriving in California on Wednesday, Nick Saban and Miss Terry got a warm welcome at the Happiest Place on Earth. They took part in the welcome parade at Disneyland as Rose Bowl week officially gets underway.

Alabama and Michigan both participated in the event, which officially kicks off the festivities ahead of Monday’s College Football Playoff semifinal. Nick Saban and Miss Terry came in on a horse drawn carriage as people lined the parade route.

The parade made for quite the welcome. But now, all eyes are shifting toward Monday’s highly anticipated matchup.

Michigan and Alabama last squared off in the Citrus Bowl as both teams wrapped up their respective 2019 seasons. That was the fifth all-time meeting between the two historic programs — but the six matchup will have the highest stakes yet.

The Wolverines came in at No. 1 in the final College Football Playoff rankings after pulling off another 13-0 season and a third straight Big Ten championship. The Crimson Tide, meanwhile, cracked the CFP field by beating Georgia in the SEC Championship as part of a red-hot stretch. Alabama enters the Rose Bowl with 11 straight victories after a Week 2 loss to Texas.

That creates an intriguing matchup between two of the best teams in the country. According to former Ohio State and Florida coach Urban Meyer, though, one team might have the hotter hand.

“Alabama has got all the momentum in the world,” Meyer said. “But you do forget that Auburn gave up a [31-yard] pass on the last play of the game. The world is a lot different now because of that defensive back. I mean, just tackle the receiver because the game is over.”