Jalen Milroe has been key to Alabama football’s turnaround during the 2023 season. If the Crimson Tide signal caller hadn’t pulled things together at the start of SEC play, UA wouldn’t be a College Football Playoff team.

But now it’s national award season. Milroe has been receiving some Heisman Trophy hype, with the finalists to be announced on Monday.

Alabama head coach Nick Saban had only good things to say about the QB, who helped Alabama to a 27-24 win over Georgia in the SEC championship game Saturday.

“Jalen has done a fantastic job for us,” Saban said on a Rose Bowl teleconference. “His transition and improvement as a player has certainly been a huge factor on the success of our team.”

The Heisman field is, as usual, extremely competitive. Milroe likely won’t be the only quarterback from the SEC to receive consideration, with LSU’s Jayden Daniels making a strong case.

The finalists for the award will be announced Monday evening. In the meantime, Milroe won several awards from Alabama, including the team’s most valuable player award, as voted by his teammates.

Whether or not he makes the trip to New York, he’s got the endorsement of his coach.

“I don’t get the opportunity to watch all these other guys on a consistent basis, so it’s not fair for me to make a comparison,” Saban said. “But from our team’s standpoint, he’s certainly a Heisman candidate in terms of what he’s done to help our team be successful.”

Alabama will be back in action Jan. 1 in the Rose Bowl to face No. 1 Michigan in a CFP semifinal.