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The Alabama Crimson Tide will leave Miami with the most important piece of hardware in a very trying year: the College Football Playoff National Championship trophy. The 18th in program history came at the conclusion of a 52-24 drubbing of the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Play of the Game: Alabama blew the game open in the first half, scoring 28 points unanswered. The half was capped off by a 42-yard touchdown grab by senior DeVonta Smith. The score completed a first-half hat-trick for Smith and with the catch he set the College Football Playoffs National Championship record for catches and broke the SEC record for receiving yards in a single season.

Offensive Player of the Game:

Tide 100.9 Staff: Mac Jones

Tuscaloosa Thread Staff: DeVonta Smith

Defensive Player of the Game:

Tide 100.9 Staff: Christian Baremore

Tuscaloosa Thread Staff: Christian Baremore

Notes:

  • The Ohio State offense was held to just three yards in its opening drive after a strong defensive stand by Alabama. After tallying 193 rushing yards against Clemson, Ohio State graduate student Trey Sermon, recorded two yards on one carry against the Crimson Tide after a left shoulder injury ended his night. Sermon sustained the injury after taking a hit from sophomore defensive back DeMarcco Hellams on the first play of the game. Sophomore Master Teague III filled in for the injured Sermon for the rest of the game.
  • After holding the Buckeye offense to a three-and-out, Alabama uses 12 plays to find the endzone for the opening score of the National Championship game. The 78-yard drive was capped off by a 1-yard run by senior Najee Harris, his 25th rushing score of the season.
  • The Buckeyes responded just three minutes later, using just eight plays to tie the game at seven. Teague III scampered in for the 8-yard score, his seventh rushing touchdown of the season, which was set up by an athletic one-handed grab by junior tight end Jeremy Ruckert.
  • Two red zone trips resulted in two touchdowns for the Crimson Tide. This time Davey O’Brian winner, Mac Jones faked the handoff to Harris and tossed a floater to Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith for the 5-yard score.
  • Ohio State’s Baron Browning forced Jones’ first fumble of the season to give Ohio State great field position to start its fourth drive of the game. Two plays later, Teague III found the endzone again to tie the game at 14.
  • Harris showed off his receiver skills with an effortless one-handed grab to tally his second touchdown of the game. Harris was left wide open after scampering out to the Ohio State sideline. The Anitoch, California native, maneuvered around two Buckeye defenders and then walked into the endzone for a 26-yard score The touchdown was Harris’ 29th of the season, setting the SEC single-season touchdown record.
  • The Crimson Tide found the endzone on its second-consecutive drive thanks in large part to Smith. The Amite, Louisiana senior wide receiver accounted for 49 of Alabama’s 75 yards which extended its lead to 11. The drive was highlighted by Smith’s 44-yard catch over Ohio State’s Shaun Wade. Smith finished the game with 215 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 12 catches.
  • After a Will Reichard 20-yard field goal, the Crimson Tide found the endzone for the sixth time in the game as Jones found sophomore Slade Bolden for a five-yard touchdown.

 

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