ATLANTA -- Nick Saban, who led Alabama to the No. 1 seed in the inaugural College Football Playoff, has been selected the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year.

Nick Saban and Alabama had to survive a challenging SEC schedule to earn a playoff berth. Marvin Gentry/USA TODAY Sports

The award, presented by the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl and the Bobby Dodd Foundation, recognizes scholarship, leadership and success on the field.

Alabama ranked third in the Southeastern Conference with a 975 Academic Progress Rate.

Saban's foundation, the Nick's Kids Fund, has distributed more than $4 million to some 150 charities since 2007.

Alabama's 12-1 season included the school's 24th SEC championship. The Crimson Tide will play Ohio State in Thursday night's Allstate Sugar Bowl.

"His success on and off the field this season made our decision an easy one," Jim Terry, chairman of the Dodd Foundation, said in a statement Tuesday. "He represents the pinnacle of coaching achievement. At Alabama, he has not only built an exceptional football program, but has prepared a community of young men to be leaders in the world, ensuring that Coach Dodd's legacy will continue for generations to come."

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.