It’s a busy time of year for Alabama football. The Crimson Tide won Saturday’s SEC championship, then headed home to Tuscaloosa, where it learned Sunday it will be playing in the College Football Playoff.

As of Monday, it will also be transfer portal season. It’s inconvenient for teams that still have games to play.

But with Alabama in the CFP, head coach Nick Saban said he expected his team could treat the situation differently.

“I don’t think players look at playing in a bowl game with the same significance they look at playing in the playoffs,” Saban said. “So that, in and of itself, makes it a little different.”

Even so, the impending portal window is still something Alabama will have to deal with. According to Saban, he told players to come talk to him and his staff about their futures.

“I’m gonna stay in the office tomorrow,” Saban said. “So that, whether it’s guys going out early for the draft, our seniors, leadership group on the team, guys in transition have the opportunity to visit about what they want to do in the future. And we’re hopeful that all of our players are wanting to stay on our team and contribute to the preparation and success that we have the opportunity to have playing the best team in the country.”

Alabama will face No. 1 Michigan in the Rose Bowl semifinal on Jan. 1. The transfer portal for FBS football opens on Monday and will stay open until Jan. 2.