Nick Saban knows the SEC is not your average football league. Despite being the pre-eminent conference in the country, the idea of the SEC getting left out of the College Football Playoff has come up this season.

The only way that could happen is if Alabama — currently No. 8 in the committee’s rankings — beats No. 1 Georgia in the SEC Championship Game. Then, the committee would be forced to decide between dropping Georgia out of the top 4 altogether and whether or not a win for Alabama is enough to bump the Crimson Tide at least 4 spots in the final rankings.

During Thursday’s press conference, Saban reiterated a belief that the SEC is among the best conferences in the country and that Georgia is one of the best teams in the country. Of course, Saban also said he believes a win for the Tide would make Alabama one of the best four teams.

“Well, I think I commented on it earlier. To reiterate it, I think that the SEC is one of the best conferences in the country. I think Georgia is one of the best teams in the country,” said Saban. “I think they’re one of the best four teams in the country. I think if we beat them, we’d be one of the best four teams in the country.”

Overall, Saban pointed to a transformational aspect of the season and the idea that how a team is playing at the end of the year should be factored into the evaluation. He went on to label it “a disrespect to the SEC” if there isn’t any SEC representation in the final field of 4.

“With teams, there’s a transformation that goes through the season. How are you playing now. Where is your team now. How good are you now,” Saban explained. “I think all those things come into play.

“I think it would be a disrespect to the SEC if there isn’t an SEC representation in the final four. I do believe that.”