Minutes after Alabama beat Kansas State in the Sugar Bowl, 45-20, it was the College Football Playoff that lingered on Nick Saban’s mind.

“I think we had a little bit of a taste in our mouth that if we had a dominant performance, it would show people that we probably did deserve to do a little better than we did, in terms of the playoff picture,” he said during his opening statement.

Alabama finished fifth in the final CFP rankings earlier this month, meaning any better would have put it among the four teams in the playoff. Those two games — the Fiesta Bowl between No. 2 Michigan and No. 3 TCU, and the Peach Bowl between No. 1 Georgia and No. 4 Ohio State — were played later Saturday.

“But at the same time,” Saban continued. “I’m proud that we came to the Sugar Bowl, and proud that we won the Sugar Bowl. But I’m most proud that there was a team out there that cared; that represents the University of Alabama in a first‑class way in the way they competed and the way they played in the game.

“So great competitive character for this team to come into this game and play the way they played, prepare the way they did, to have an outstanding performance. So very proud of the group.”

Despite its two losses, enough dominoes fell around Alabama that the Tide was at least in the conversation for the final playoff spot. Saban made his case before the CFP’s selection meeting for Alabama’s inclusion, then expressed his disappointment when it was not part of the field.

Mike Rodak is an Alabama beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @mikerodak.