TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) -- Alabama coach Nick Saban isn't talking about the BCS or SEC championship.

He insists the second-ranked Crimson Tide's focus is only on the state title going into Saturday's game against Auburn. Saban said Monday "we're not in any conversations about anything other than the game that we're playing."

That means he doesn't want to hear about the losses by Oregon and Kansas State that opened the door wide for the Tide to move back to the front of the line for a national title defense despite a loss to No. 9 Texas A&M.

Alabama has proven the past two years that patience sometimes is as good as perfection. Last season, the Tide lost to LSU but got a rematch because Iowa State stunned Oklahoma State and Oregon knocked off Stanford.