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The 12-0 Alabama Crimson Tide came in to the National Title game after defeating #4 Notre Dame in the Rose Bowl 31-14, in the 2021 College Football Playoff Semifinal presented by Capital One. The win advanced the Crimson Tide to the CFP National Championship Game for the fifth time in the last six seasons. Alabama is now 5-1-1 in Rose Bowl games and 7-3 in CFP pairings with the seven wins being the most by any program since the inception of the Playoff in 2014. Ohio State made the NCAA Final Four teams after only playing in 6 games. The Buckeyes defeated Clemson.
Alabama’s Heisman winner DeVonta Smith put on an incredible 1st half show. In the first half, Smith caught 12 passes for 215 yards and 3 touchdowns. Mac Jones, Alabama’s QB, hit on 25 of 30 passes for 342 yards and 4 touchdown passes. Can you say INCREDIBLE!!!
1st Half recap
It did take the high powered Crimson Tide offense a little time to strike first, but strike they did with Najee Harris scoring on a run play to the right for a 7-0 lead at the 8:52 mark.
Ohio State did not seem to be intimidated as they marched right back down the field and evened the game up 7-7 on an 8 yard run by Master Teague III at the 5:32 mark of the 1st quarter.
Alabama opened the 2nd quarter with a 5 yard touchdown pass to Smith for a 14-7 lead. It took Ohio State less than 4 minutes to respond as Master Teague III once again ran the ball in from 4 yards out to even the score at 14-14 at the 11:54 mark.
From there it was all Alabama as they outscored Ohio State 21-3 the rest of the half for a 35-17 halftime lead.
2nd Half recap
Alabama, took the opening kick off of the 2nd Half and promptly marched down the field with a 16 play 75 yard drive, only to walk away with a 20 yard field goal pushing the lead out to 38-17 at the 8:32 mark of the 3rd quarter. This was done with Heisman winner DaVonta Smith on the sideline after being injured during the drive.
Ohio State showed they were not about to quit just yet as Ohio QB Justin Fields took the Buckeyes in for the score hitting Garrett Wilson on a 20 yard strike. This came right after a 33 yard scamper by Fields. The touchdown pass made the score 38-24 at the 7:13 mark of the 3rd quarter.
Alabama would not be denied as they once again would drive down the field and hit pay dirt on a 5 yard touchdown pass from Mac Jones to Slade Bolden for his first touchdown reception at the 3:30 mark of the 3rd quarter for a 45-24 lead. The touchdown pass would be Jones’ 5th of the game.
After Ohio State turned the ball over on downs on their own 43, Alabama would take over and again showed why their offense was the class of the NCAA by scoring on a Najee Harris ran the ball in from 1 yard out for his 3rd score and a 52-24 lead at the 13:15 mark of the 4th quarter.
Ohio State continued to fight and took the ball back inside the red zone before Ohio State QB threw 4 straight incomplete passes to end a 17 play drive and turn the ball over on downs on the 6 yard line with 7:57 on the clock. Alabama would run the clock down to 6:36 and punt the ball away giving Ohio State a chance to make the score a little more respectable. The best Ohio State could do however was a 3 and out and allowing the Crimson Tide to run more clock. Alabama would do just that and run the clock out for the win.
CONGRATULATIONS to the ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE on their Championship!!!
Alabama 52 – Ohio State 24
