COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF CHAMPIONSHIP
NO. 1 ALABAMA VS. NO. 3 OHIO STATE | Tonight at Miami Gardens, Fla. | TV: ESPN, 5 PST A season like no other closes with the Crimson Tide going for their sixth national title under Nick Saban.
What’s at stake
The Crimson Tide will play for their sixth national championship under coach Nick Saban, 13th overall in college football’s poll era ( 1936- present) and first since 2017. Alabama is 2- 2 in CFP championship games. A sixth title at Alabama for Saban would match Paul “Bear” Bryant’s total with the Tide, but it would give him a record seven overall. He won a BCS title at Louisiana State in 2003. For Ohio State, it would be its seventh national championship of the poll era and first since 2014, the inaugural season of the playoff.
Key matchup
Alabama’s interior defense, led by tackle Christian Barmore, versus Ohio State interior offensive line with guard Wyatt Davis and center Josh Myers. The Crimson Tide had a couple of bad games defending the run early in the season against Mississippi and Georgia, but they have gotten much better since as Barmore’s play has improved. Davis, an All- American, and Myers have been Ohio State’s best blockers, leading the way for running back Trey Sermons’ lateseason surge ( 636 yards in the last three games).
Ohio State player to watch
Quarterback Justin Fields is coming off the best game of his career and maybe the best game a quarterback has had this season. Fields, a junior, threw six touchdowns and had only six incomplete passes in the Sugar Bowl against Clemson. He also took a nasty hit to the side that left him aching throughout the game. Fields’ mobility is a big part of his game. If he’s limited, it takes away a key weapon for the Buckeyes.
Alabama player to watch
Wide receiver DeVonta Smith, the Heisman Trophy winner, has been close to unstoppable in the second half of the season and had three touchdowns on seven catches for 130 yards against Notre Dame in the Rose Bowl.
Alabama offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian gets the most out of Smith and keeps defenses guessing by lining him up wide, in the slot and often sending him in motion.
Of note
Alabama receiver Jaylen Waddle, who broke his ankle Oct. 24, returned to practice this week for the first time. Saban said Sunday that Waddle practiced to “some degree” and whether he plays will be a game- time decision. The coach also said freshman defensive back Malachi Moore is questionable to play because of an undisclosed injury. If Ohio State wins the national championship, it will have played the fewest games of any title winner since Minnesota went 8- 0 in 1941.