The Alabama Crimson Tide were sweating out the College Football Playoff selection show, wondering if they’d get in over Ohio State.

They, of course, did get in, earning the No. 4 spot. They’ll face off against Clemson in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1.

However, coach Nick Saban was busy recruiting during the selection show, so didn’t learn the Tide had made the final four until a few minutes after the announcement.

“When I got here, everyone was waiting for me and it was really exciting and I’m sorry I missed it,” he said on ESPN.

Saban has been outspoken about believing his team should get a chance to play for a title the past week, making a strong case for Alabama. He said he believes the committee made the right choice putting Alabama in.

“I really do believe that, based on the total body of work, our team deserved a chance to be in,” he said.

He added, however, that the Crimson Tide players need to learn from the Iron Bowl loss, which made them have to sweat out the selection show to see if they’d get in.

“We didn’t control what we could control and you always want to control what you can control,” he said. “We put our fate in someone else’s hands and I think there’s a lesson there. Second lesson is I think our team will have a tremendous amount of respect for Clemson. Everyone should be focused on what they need to do to play their very best football.”

Now, though, the Tide are in and will face Clemson in the Sugar Bowl semifinal on Jan. 1. In the rematch of the past two title games, Saban said the Tigers are sound on both sides of the ball.

“I think they’re still a very explosive offense,” he said. “I think they still have a lot of receivers, weapons, skill positions that can make big plays. (Defensively) it all starts with the front seven. They’re really well coached and it’ll be tough to move the ball against them.”

Who will win the rematch? We’ll find out on Jan. 1 in what is sure to be an exciting semifinal matchup.