Alabama seeks college title repeat as playoffs open

Undefeated defending champion to face Washington while Ohio State meets Clemson

WASHINGTON, Dec 30, (AFP): Unbeaten defending champion Alabama will face the University of Washington while Ohio State meets Clemson in Saturday’s other semifinal as the US collegiate American football championships begin.

The Crimson Tide (13-0) seek a 26th consecutive victory when they face Washington (12-1) in the Peach Bowl at Atlanta while Ohio State (11-1), winner of the first four-team playoff showdown in 2014, meets Clemson (12-1) in the Fiesta Bowl at suburban Phoenix, Arizona.

“Thinking about last year’s national championship isn’t going to help us get this one,” said Alabama senior defensive end Jonathan Allen.

“If you want to be great and have a legendary legacy, you have to have that relentlessness to your work ethic and your grind.”

Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts, an 18-year-old run-pass threat, has 22 throwing touchdowns and 12 rushing ones. He has thrown for 2,592 yards and run for 841 more.

Hurts could join 1985 Oklahoma signal caller Jamelle Holieway as the only true freshmen quarterbacks to lead a national championship team.

“I’m a firm believer in age being nothing but a number and I feel like if you step up to any situation and you’re able to play your game, be confident, have the poise you need to have, you’ll be all right,” Hurts said.

The Huskies, who have not had so important a matchup since beating Michigan in the Rose Bowl to share the 1991 season national title, have made only 12 turnovers all season but Alabama leads the nation with 10 defensive touchdowns off turnovers.

In the other matchup, Clemson’s Tigers return to the same stadium where they dropped last season’s title game 45-40 to Alabama in hopes off possibly booking a rematch with the Crimson Tide in the January 9 final.

“We’ve set out to be right here where we are,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. “We look forward to playing on the big stage.”

Ohio State was a controversial pick for the last four, not even qualifying for the Big Ten conference title game that was won by Penn State, which failed to make the four-team field. But selectors did take the only major conference unbeaten and the other three teams that lost only once.

Clemson had 46 quarterback sacks, second-most in major college football, while Ohio State has struggled with blocking lately, the Buckeyes surrendering 11 sacks in their past two games.

Wide receiver Sebastian Smith #6 of the Ohio Bobcats attempts to catch a pass in front of cornerback Blace Brown #18 of the Troy Trojans on Dec 23, in Mobile,

Alabama. (AFP)