NEW ORLEANS — Alabama running back Damien Harris says playing Clemson for a third time will not be that hard.

“Playing them three years in a row, we kind of know everything they do inside and out,” he said during Thursday’s Sugar Bowl press conference as the the top-ranked Tigers and Tide get ready to square off in the College Football Playoff Semifinals on Monday. “They basically know everything we do so it’s not like there is going to be any secrets in this game or anything different.”

ESPN and the media are calling the 2018 Sugar Bowl between No. 1 Clemson and No. 4 Alabama, Clemson vs. Alabama III or the Trilogy after meeting the last two years in the national championship game.

“It’s just different players. But, most of the same coaches, same scheme, things like that,” Harris said. “So it’s just kind of a game about who wants it more – who goes out there and plays with the fundamental execution. The team who wants it the most is the team that is going to come out and win.”

When looking at Clemson’s sixth-ranked defense, a lot of people compare it to Auburn’s. Those Tigers shut down the Crimson Tide and held them to a season low in points and total yards.

Harris says Clemson’s defense is better than Auburn’s.

“I mean, they’re both great defenses but Clemson does things a little bit different,” the running back said. “I think they’ll be the best defense we’ve played so far this year. They’ve got a great front seven, great defensive line, great linebacker play, their secondary makes plays on the ball so like I said, they’ll be the best defense we’ve played this year. We’re looking forward to the challenge.”

The Tigers (12-1) are holding opponents to 277.9 yards and 12.8 points per game this season. Clemson also leads the nation in sacks and is third in tackles for loss.

Clemson’s front four, which consist on defensive ends Clelin Ferrell and Austin Bryant and defensive tackles Christian Wilkins and Dexter Lawrence has recorded 26 of the Tigers’ 44 sacks.

Harris says the Tigers’ defensive front is much better this year than the previous two seasons.

“I mean, most of the guys were kind of young when we first played them in 2015 so those guys have kind of grown up,” he said. “They’re kind of the veterans of that defense now with more experience and more time in their system.

“They really developed a good sense of what they’re doing, and they create a lot of problems.”