Once Florida State started turning the ball over in the second half, that was all she wrote in this one from Atlanta. Show Alabama so much as a chink in your armor and the Crimson Tide have proven time and again it will expose you.

That’s what happened Saturday night, as the Seminoles kept things close for a half before a blocked punt and two interceptions doomed their chances of upsetting the No. 1 team in the nation.

Immediately following the game, Alabama head coach Nick Saban had this to say about his team’s dominant performance in the 24-7 win over the No. 3 team in the nation. The Tide’s leader cited FSU’s mistakes for being the ultimate factor in the game.

“I think we scrapped in the game. I don’t think we played great. I think the defense did a fantastic job, especially in the second half — getting some turnovers,” Saban commented.

“Special teams was a big difference in the game, with the turnover, the blocked punt. Our consistency, on offense is not what it needs to be. It’s great to get a win like this, even if you have to do it ugly. We have a lot of work to do. We know where we are now and we’ll work to get better.

On just how big the special teams plays were in the outcome of the game.

“I think it was the difference in the game, really,” Saban said. “The blocked punt was big. Had a blocked field goal. The field position we kept them in (in the second half) was also key.”

Why do you like to schedule these tough opponents early in the season? What do you look to get out of them, Saban was asked.

“I think it tells you a lot about your team, we worked hard for this game” he answered. “We have tremendous respect for their team. I think they are going to be a huge factor all season. This tells us where we are and what we need to do to improve.”