Notre Dame received a harsh dose of reality in 2012 as it rode a 12-0 regular season mark into the BCS National Championship Game. Behind an elite defense, the Fighting Irish drew Alabama as the 2 teams faced off at then-SunLife Stadium in South Florida.

The Irish, though, were no match for the Crimson Tide. Behind 4 touchdown passes from AJ McCarron, Alabama cruised to a 42-14 win to clinch back-to-back titles.

With the Irish set to face the Tide in the Rose Bowl for the first time since their national championship game loss—their 2018 CFP appearance in the Cotton Bowl semifinal against eventual national champion Clemson didn’t go to plan, either—they understand they have something to prove against what is a heavily-favored Alabama team.

“We understand that if we don’t play to our standard, we can be beaten down pretty bad,” head coach Brian Kelly told ESPN on Sunday after Notre Dame was revealed as the No. 4 seed during the CFP selection show. “Our guys recognize what they’ll need to do relative to the mental preparation of playing a great football team in Alabama. Now, we’re much better prepared than we were in 2012 in terms of the physicality on both lines. I think we have the ability to move the football, certainly. Those things are going to have to be in play.”

Will this time be any different for Notre Dame?