Dylan Moses is not exactly tossing bouquets toward the Upstate of South Carolina following the national championship game.

During a visit to SEC Media Days, the Alabama linebacker was slow to label Clemson the better team even though the Tigers beat the Crimson Tide 44-16 in the national title game.

“It was more preparation,” he said. “I wouldn’t say they were a better team.”

Moses added that, “Georgia is definitely the hardest team I have played in college.”

Interestingly, neither team is on the Tide’s schedule at this point. But the consensus preseason rankings expect the top three teams, in varying order, this season will be Clemson, Alabama and Georgia. It wouldn’t be a surprise if some combination of the three teams met during the College Football Playoff.

Perhaps Moses was showing his SEC loyalty. Or, like his coach, perhaps he gave a nod to distractions and players and coaches focusing more on other jobs or the NFL Draft than on the title game at hand.