While Alabama started off the game slow, particularly on offense, the 2016 SEC Championship Game quickly turned into a route, with Alabama winning by a decisive 54-16 margin over Florida.

The win was Alabama’s third consecutive SEC title and head coach Nick Saban’s seventh overall.

One question which was quickly asked of Saban was the possible changes to his staff – indirectly centered around the speculation that offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin would be leaving the team before the season even ends.

On if his staff could see any changes prior to the national semifinal Playoff game:

“I think it depends on the circumstance and the situation, and I think those are things that people have to agree on relative to what their goals and aspirations are, the circumstance and situation that they’re in, their commitment to our players and our team, and do we think it’s going to affect our organization long term. So those things are always evaluated.

“The job that I got when I was the defensive coordinator to the Cleveland Browns, I got early in December. We had four or five games left in the season. We were a really good team and made it to the playoffs. We won first round of the playoffs, lost in the second round. I stayed there the whole time, hired four or five guys, did the best job I could do for the players. That’s the way I believe, but if somebody else didn’t believe that, then that wouldn’t be the right thing for them to do.”

Saban was then asked directly about Lane Kiffin, and the importance of settling his status moving forward:

“Well, we’ve had conversations about it. He wants to be a head coach. I want him to be a head coach. I want to help him to get a head coaching job. The rest of it, we have not discussed, and I don’t think it’s the right time. Maybe the right time will be sometime in the next couple weeks, but right now we’re focusing on him trying to get a head coaching job.”

On the importance of winning the SEC title game:

“This is something I’ve participated in a few times, and other than a National Championship Game, there’s nothing better. Just can’t tell you how proud I am of our players.”

On the injury suffered by Shaun Dion Hamilton:

“Shaun Dion has a knee. He’s probably going to be out for the year. He’ll be missed, but we have a lot of confidence in Rashaan, and he did a good job for us today.”

On the defensive adjustments made by the defense after Florida’s hot start to the game (as well as the start to the second half):

“In both of their scoring drives, they did a lot of stuff in the opening script. I think everybody knows what the opening script is, a lot of formation stuff. They moved number 4 around, who is really a receiver, but they made him a back, and that created some mismatch situations.

“But we had three third down situations, third and 8, 7, and 14, that they converted on the first drive. And the other drive that they scored on, they converted two or three first downs as well.

“First drive of the second half, same thing happened — a little confusion, had some matchup issues relative to things that we hadn’t practiced. But when we got things adjusted on the sidelines, the players did a good job of adapting to it.”

On the Alabama continuing to score on defense and special teams:

“This group, we’ve scored more nonoffensive touchdowns this year, I think, than any team I’ve ever been associated with. I think it speaks to the playmaker type guys that we have, the good job the coaches do putting them in position. When you block a punt, it’s always a schematic thing based on their protection, and the guys did a good job of executing it. Gore did a great job of hitting it. And Josh, the ball went right to him, and he ran it for a touchdown.”

On the importance of the third-quarter goal line stand, and the following offensive drive:

“I think that was the turning point in the game because even — when they scored right at the end of the half, that kind of gave them the momentum.

“I felt like we were a little flat in the locker room at halftime. We came out and went three and out on offense. They drove the ball, and we had the great goal line stand, and that was a great goal line stand. Then we took the ball 98 yards. I think that was the turning point of the game psychologically for our team and for their team.”

As always, Saban saw room for improvement for his team, despite his team’s 38-point victory over the SEC East champions.

Saban was asked if his team had played its best game yet, and if that gave them confidence heading into the Playoff: 

“Well, I always think that we can improve. We certainly didn’t play as well today, but I think there was a little confusion because of some of the things that they did that we hadn’t practiced. Our guys usually do a really good job of whatever we prepare for, they do a really good job of executing on the field, and they’re really good at adjusting to things during the game. But when we see things that are a little bit different, sometimes it creates a little confusion, and I think that was the issue today.

“We didn’t start the game very well offensively although we finished the game well. I think, if we can create balance offensively and be a little more efficient and effective to how we pass the ball relative to how we can run it, I think that would make us better. So there’s a lot of things I think we can improve on. Red zone. I thought special teams was a little better today. That was something I was a little concerned about after the Auburn game. Ball security was not good in that game. It was very good today. We won the turnover battle by three. So we had the three interceptions, and we always say that we want every drive to end in a kick, and that’s certainly what happened today.”