Alabama football’s preparations for its College Football Playoff semifinal matchup with Michigan in the Rose Bowl are fully underway. The Crimson Tide returned to the practice field on Monday, getting ready for the Jan. 1 game in Pasadena.

Alabama head coach Nick Saban spoke with media after Monday’s practice, the Tide’s third since taking a post-SEC championship game break. Here are the highlights from his press conference.

— Saban says Alabama has focused on fundamentals for first three days of practice. Says players need to reinvest into conditioning and techniques. Says it all translates into positive performance in the game. Says players did good job over past two weeks and three days have been good.

— Says CFP is great challenge for players. Says nobody is owed anything and it’s like a one-game season. Congratulates Alabama’s 15 graduates, along with all-Americans.

— Says UA does quality control every week on breaking tendencies.

— Saban says George Helow knows Alabama’s system. Says it helps Alabama get up to speed with all the recruiting.

— Says he’s “not really” planning on changing much about his signs for this game. Says they always do something a little bit different but it’s not a major concern.

— Says Jase McClellan is doing well, but it’s too early to tell whether he’ll be able to play in the Rose Bowl.

— Says Coleman Huzler is finishing the season with Alabama and he isn’t focused on whether Helow will be a full-time hire for the Crimson Tide.

— Says Kool-Aid McKinstry has made it through concussion protocol and is back in practice.

— Says his talks with players about their futures aren’t for public consumption.