Your guide to the College Football Playoff semifinals
Keys to game in Alabama-Notre Dame Rose Bowl and Clemson-Ohio State Sugar Bowl.
The Rose Bowl semifinal was moved from Pasadena, California, to Arlington, Texas, because of COVID-19 restrictions, but the game isn’t lacking star power. It’s been almost eight years since Notre Dame and Alabama met in the Bowl Championship Series title game. The Irish entered that contest unbeaten and ranked No. 1. They were were beaten handily by the Crimson Tide. This time it’s Alabama unbeaten and ranked No. 1. Can Notre Dame return the favor?
Here are three keys to victory for each team:
ALABAMA
Protect Mac Jones: The Tide offense is generating 7.83 yards per snap, an almost ridiculous level of efficiency, and ranks second in scoring at 49.7 points per game. The only issue that occasionally crops up is sacks. Alabama has allowed 16 in 11 games, half the total its defense has produced. If that number stays in the range of fewer than two, Jones will once again be able to get the ball wherever it needs to go among a talented group of receivers, led by AllAmerican DeVonta Smith.
Stop the run: The Notre Dame offense has excellent balance with 2,394 yards by land and 2,613 by air. But it’s the ground game that averages a shade over 5 yards an attempt and takes the pressure off quarterback Ian Book. The Alabama front has been sound all year, yielding just 3.17 yards per rush. If the Tide can maintain that dominance up front against a talented offensive line, the Irish aerial attack will have a hard time keeping up.
Keep making kicks: He’s been somewhat overshadowed by all the offensive weapons the Tide has, but Will Reichard is having the best year of any Alabama kicker in recent memory. In addition to making all 73 of his PAT attempts, he’s 12-for-12 on field goals, including a season long from 52 yards.
NOTRE DAME
Finish drives: Alabama doesn’t get stopped often. Only 27 Crimson Tide drives have ended in punts, fewer than three a game. That puts significant pressure on the Fighting Irish to take advantage of every opportunity they get in plus territory.
Don’t get behind: As mentioned above, stops are hard to get against the Tide. Notre Dame is comfortable in a tight game, as shown in the first Clemson encounter; however, playing from behind doesn’t suit a team that wants to have running back Kyren Williams (1,061 rushing yards) be the focus of the offense. Early success also will be critical for a team that needs confidence after its loss in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game. Once their early drives sputtered and Clemson found its footing, the game was essentially over at halftime. Notre Dame can’t afford a repeat against Alabama as the Crimson Tide are good enough to put points on the board in bunches.
Win the turnover battle: An extra possession or two will give Notre Dame its best shot of staying in striking distance. Jones doesn’t give it away often with just four interceptions, but Alabama has lost seven fumbles. Notre Dame has 17 takeaways, including 10 fumble recoveries, and Book has only been picked off twice himself. In addition to changing momentum, a couple of key turnovers can change field position and result in easy points. Generating that kind of secondary offense is important for the Irish.