In a year filled with uncertainty after uncertainty, there is one thing that tells football fans that not everything is changing and that’s Alabama hoisting up the national championship trophy. It was a scene that we have seen for years: red and white confetti blowing in the wind, the championship hats and t-shirts being donned by every Alabama player, coach, and everyone in between. Nick Saban did it again. At this point, we should just forego the college football season and just randomly pick who is going to lose to Alabama in the championship. Any other suggestion feels like a waste of time. This game cemented a lot of things for this college football season. It cemented the fact that Nick Saban is the greatest college football coach ever, winning his 6th ring with Alabama. It cemented the historic season for wide receiver Devonta Smith, who many are saying had one of the greatest college seasons of all time. It also cemented that Justin Fields, quarterback for Ohio State, has done all he can in college and is ready to take that next step to the NFL.
Everything about this game was characteristic of Ohio State not being able to finish drives, and Alabama putting their foot on the throttle and never letting up. The game first started off close, 7-7, and I think every Ohio State fan was just excited to still have this to be a close game. Then, Alabama scored again and got the ball back to have the opportunity to put the game at 21-14, early in the second half. However, a crucial and probably the only mistake made on Alabama’s part occurred. Mac Jones got stripped, and Ohio State recovered the football. Justin Fields and Ohio State pounced on the opportunity and made it a 14-14 game. Everyone, at this point, was waiting for that superstar on either team to fully turn the tide on the game. Well, look no further than Devonta Smith. He finished the half with 215 yards and three touchdowns. The Heisman winner did this in one half. He literally turned the tide of the game by himself with a bit of help from star running back Najee Harris, who ran for 79 yards and two TDs, and quarterback Mac Jones, who threw for 464 yards and five TDs. There was a reason why he was the first wide receiver since 1991 to win the Heisman. By the start of the third quarter, the score was 35 to 17, and it was just going to get worse for Ohio State. After Alabama got a field goal at the start of the third quarter, Ohio State did get a touchdown to make the score 38 to 24. However, this would be the last time Ohio State scored in the game. Alabama, even with Smith sitting out with a hand injury, used the rest of their stacked roster to run up the score to 52 to 24, capping off a perfect season with a National Championship victory.
However, no one can say that Ohio State did not play their hearts out. Justin Fields led his team in passing and rushing yards with 194 yards passing and 67 yards rushing with one TD while his teammates backed the superstar to the best of their ability. They were a good team, but the only problem was Alabama was better, a lot better. Justin Fields with this game and his performance in the semi-final where he basically single-handedly defeated the alpha dog of Clemson and Trevor Lawrence showcased that he has the talent to be a star in the NFL. He is a dual-threat QB, has a cannon for an arm, and has clearly shown a toughness not many players have. Applause to Justin Fields and Ohio State is due with the effort they put out on the field.
Alabama, once again, showcased their dominance with amazing coaching in Nick Saban and a deep roster with superstars in Devonta Smith, Najee Harris, Mac Jones, and a dependable defense. This school is a powerhouse and with all their recruiting, they will probably be powerhouses for a long, long time. God help us all.
This game was not a close game but at least it was an entertaining game. Especially with the year we just had, I think the college football season capped off with a showcase of what happens when an unstoppable force comes up against an immovable object.
