Bama gets No. 2 seed, will face Michigan State in College Football Playoffs

For a second straight season, Alabama secured a spot in the College Football Playoff.

Coming off a 29-15 win over Florida in the SEC Championship Game, the Crimson Tide (12-1) earned the No. 2 seed and a matchup with No. 3 Michigan State (12-1) in Arlington, Texas.

"We know what kind of physical, tough teams they have at Michigan State, and it will be a real challenge for our team," Tide coach Nick Saban said during his interview on ESPN..

The committee slotted Clemson (13-0) at No. 1 with Oklahoma (11-1) checking in at No. 4 for a showdown in Miami. Both games will take place on ESPN on Dec. 31.

The winners will meet in Glendale, Ariz. on Jan. 11.

Alabama and Michigan State have only met once with that contest coming in the 2010 Capital One Bowl when the Crimson Tide defeated the Spartans, 49-7, to cap off a 10-3 season.

None of the current players for either side were on the team that season.

Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio touched on what he expects from Alabama.

"They're going to be very well coached, they're going to be disciplined," Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio said during an interview with ESPN. "They're going to play with a lot of toughness."

Over the last two weeks, there was discussion about whether Alabama should jump Clemson for the top spot. But committee chair

man Jeff Long said there was no debate this week.

"Clearly Clemson No. 1," Long said while on ESPN. 'Three top-10 victories on their résumé now. Undefeated ACC champs. Really very little discussion. Certainly we went over it but clearly Clemson is the No. 1 team in the nation."

Clemson defeated North Carolina on Saturday to win the ACC Championship. Michigan State knocked off previously undefeated Iowa to claim the Big 10 championship. The Big 12 doesn't have a conference championship game, but the Sooners won the league.

Alabama and Michigan State will kick off after Clemson and Oklahoma play at 4.

Contact Anniston Star Sports Writer Marq Burnett at mburnett@annistonstar.com, on Twitter @Marq_Burnett.

This story was originally published December 6, 2015 at 4:40 PM with the headline "Bama gets No. 2 seed, will face Michigan State in College Football Playoffs ."