When Alabama takes on Kansas State in the Sugar Bowl, the late Mike Leach will be with them on its helmets.

The Crimson Tide revealed on Twitter that they’re honoring the former Mississippi State coach who died earlier this month with helmet decals that say “Mike”.

Leach served as Texas Tech’s head coach from 2000-09, then moved on to Washington State from 2012-19, before taking the job at Mississippi State. Leach compiled a 158-107 record and earned AFCA Coach of the Year in 2018, in addition to capturing Pac-12 Coach of the Year twice (2015 and 2018) along with a Big 12 Coach of the Year award in 2008.

No. 5 Alabama brings a 10-2 mark into the matchup after defeating rival Auburn 49-27 in the Iron Bowl. Alabama’s 2 losses (Tennessee, LSU) came by a combined 4 points.

The last 2 occasions that Alabama settled for a spot in the Sugar Bowl instead of vying for a national title, they lost to Utah in 2008 and Oklahoma in 2013.

However, Alabama is bringing a different mindset this time.

“That was kind of the first thing that coach Saban discussed when bowl practices commenced earlier this month,” Alabama offensive lineman Emil Ekiyor Jr. said via The AP. “The attitude of this team has been completely opposite of the attitude that he explained that those teams had.”

Alabama-Kansas State is slated for a 12 p.m. ET New Year’s Eve kickoff and will be televised on ESPN.