Like many young defensive coaches in college football, Michigan’s Jesse Minter grew up admiring Nick Saban.

The 40-year-old Minter — the Wolverines’ defensive coordinator — will be tasked with helping try to outwit Saban and Alabama in Monday’s Rose Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal. Saban cut his teeth as first a defensive position coach at several college and pro stops and then defensive coordinator at Michigan State and with the NFL’s Cleveland Browns.

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“As a defensive coach coming up, Nick Saban is the guy, right?,” Minter said. “He’s the defensive guy that became a head coach that has been successful at every level, that rewrote college record books over his career. Even at Michigan State did a good job, and then obviously LSU and Alabama. There’s automatic respect for that.”

The Michigan defense is first nationally in fewest points allowed (9.46 per game) and second in fewest yards allowed (239.7 per game). The Wolverines also went deep into the season without allowing a first and goal situation to an opposing offense.

Still, Minter said he knows facing Alabama will be largely different than anything Michigan has dealt with this year. He said no opponent the Wolverines have faced this season has a quarterback as athletic as Jalen Milroe or an offensive line as big and physical as the Crimson Tide’s.

“I think maybe the closest thing to them we’ve faced is the team we face in practice, our own offense,” Minter said. “… It’s different than, than most teams you play. At the same time, you embrace the challenge, you embrace the opportunity that’s there. It’s an opportunity to play against the college team over the last 15 years … that’s won all those national titles.

“I’ve been in these situations a bunch. So I think for our guys, the disappointment creates a mindset that this is the opportunity you want and let’s embrace it. Let’s hope that those practice moments prepared us  and go out on Monday and see where we’re at.”

Kickoff for the Rose Bowl game is set for 4 p.m. Central on Monday, with television coverage on ESPN.