If Alabama and Notre Dame take care of business in the semifinals, we’re in for a rematch of the 2013 BCS National Championship Game (for the 2012 season) between the Crimson Tide and Fighting Irish.

Judging by Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly’s recent comments, he’s simply relieved not to have to face the 2012 UA team again.

“Well, I think the best thing about it is the 2012 Alabama team is not in this Playoff bracket because people forget how physical of a football team that was, offensively and defensively. So that’s probably the best news,” Kelly said in a Sunday media conference. “The second part of that is that this is a better-prepared football team, coaching – the head coach, everybody associated with it, our staff, support staff – everybody’s been through it. And I can prepare our players better for it, as well.

“Our football team is much more balanced. We were going into that game on the backs of our defense. We can hold our own on offense in this run, as well, so I just think better prepared all around, and you know, it doesn’t change the competition level. There’s still great football teams, but let’s not forget that 2012 Alabama team was pretty special.”

While no one would argue that the 2012 team was special, the 2018 squad appears to be pretty “special” as well, breaking a regular-season record that stood for over a century.