TAMPA, Fla, — Saturday’s media day featured every player and coach from No. 2 Clemson and top-ranked Alabama as both teams prepare to take on one another in a national championship rematch.

Here is what we heard from Alabama:

Alabama head coach Nick Saban said that his team is thankful to have the opportunity to play for their potential fifth national championship in the last five years.

“I think you enjoy the challenge when you’re in this position,” Saban said. “Players have done a wonderful job all year of creating an opportunity for themselves, and as a coach, you want to do the best job that you can to try to put them in the best position where they have a chance to be successful, and that’s always challenging, but it’s always a lot of fun.”

The biggest news that broke prior to both teams arriving in Tampa was that former offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin would not be the coordinator for the game, and that Steve Sarkisian would be promoted to the role earlier than expected.

“I don’t think I could have foreseen four months ago when I was contemplating doing TV to get into this situation. But very grateful and humbled and honored that Coach Saban and the entire Alabama Crimson Tide family entrusted in me to do the job,” Sarkisian said. “I don’t think I could have foreseen it four months ago. But today and this week, it’s about doing the job and getting these players who have worked so hard for months that have put themselves in this position to play in this game to do the best job I can do to help them.”

Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts noted the offense is confident in Sarkisian’s ability to provide a smooth transition.

“He was the first one to tell me and I was like, okay, well, let’s do it. When he got the job for next year, I told him congratulations and I’m looking forward to working with you. But it just turns out to be that that came a little earlier. But whatever comes we’re going to go full speed and hit it as hard as we can,” Hurts said. “He told me it’s like riding a bike. He’s back on the bike now and he’s going to catch his rhythm Monday. I think he’ll do a great job. I’m completely confident in him.”

At the ESPN College Football Award show, Saban said he thought Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson deserved the Heisman, especially with the trouble he gave Alabama’s defense in the 2016 title game. On Saturday, he stated that Watson is still the biggest challenge for the Crimson Tide.

“The quarterback,” Saban said. “Their entire system, their entire scheme, but Deshaun Watson, I’ve said this all week long, is probably the most dynamic player in college football, maybe the best player in college football relative to what he does for his team. A combination of his ability to pass the ball accurately, execute their offense in the passing game, as well as his physical ability to run the ball and add quarterback runs to their whole system of very good players, whether it’s running backs or wide receivers, and he can utilize all the talent on their team because of his skill set.”

Although he didn’t play against Watson in last year’s matchup, Hurts agreed that Watson and the Clemson offense will be a tough task for Alabama’s defense.

“This team, they’re ball hogs. They’re fast on defense. Offensively they have a great quarterback. They are overall a really good team and we’re going to have our hands full again this week,” Hurts said.