The other half of the College Football Playoff championship will be decided when No. 3 Michigan State (12-1) meets No. 2 Alabama (12-1) in the 2015 Goodyear Cotton Bowl.

For Nick Saban, Thursday's game is more than just an opportunity to play for another national championship. The Alabama head coach led Michigan State to the Citrus Bowl in 1999 -- a game he wasn't present for, having already resigned for LSU. It was the unfortunate culmination to five years of mediocre football.

Lane Kiffin Should Replace Nick Saban When He Leaves For NFL

Michigan State eventually found its groove -- albeit 11 years later -- under Mark Dantonio. Now enjoying his third Big Ten championship (2010, 2013, 2015), Dantonio hopes to lead the Spartans to their first national championship since 1966.

A free live stream of the contest can be found here.

Connor Cook's Sister Is ... Something Else

Preview

Game Time: 7:00 p.m. CT

Location: AT&T Stadium

Weather: N/A (Indoor Stadium)

Odds, via ESPN: Alabama -9.5, per Bovada

Radio: ESPN Radio

TV: ESPN

What They're Saying

For more content, follow us on Twitter @SportsWN or LIKE US on Facebook.