OHIO STATE VS. ALABAMA GAME PREVIEW

Who: No. 4OhioState (7-0) vs. No. 1 Alabama(12-0)

When: 8p.m., today

Where: HardRockStadium, Miami, Fla. TV/Radio: ESPN/1410

Series history: Alabamaleads 3-1with victories in the1978SugarBowl, 1986 Kick off Classic and 1995 Citrus Bowl. The Buck eyes won the 2015 Sugar Bowl. The teamsare scheduled for their first game not at a neutral siteSept. 28,2027, when the CrimsonTide travel to Columbus to take on OhioState.

Lastgame: OhioState stunnedmany around the college footballworldby upsetting the top-ranked CrimsonTide 42-35six years ago. Ezekiel Elliott ran for230yards and two touchdowns, including an 85-yardscoring jaunt in the fourth quarter that ultimately proved to be thedifference. OhioState overcamea 21-6deficit withCardaleJones throwing one touchdownpass and Evan Spencer another along theway.

Coaches: Ohio State’ s Ryan Day is 23-1in two-plus seasons. Alabama’s NickSaban is164-23in14seasons in Tuscaloosa and 255-65-1overall in25 seasons as a college head coach. He is2-2 against OhioState.

OhioStatenotes: OhioState isplaying in a national championship gamefor the fifth time in19years. The Buckeyeswon in 2002and ’14 while losing in ’06 and ’07… The Buckeyes rank in the top seven in the nation in scoring offense, total offense, rushingoffense, thirddown conversions and turnovermargin… Eight OhioState players playedhigh school football in Florida— Sevyn Banks (Orlando), Marcus Crowley (Jacksonville), TyrekeJohnson (Jacksonville), NicholasPetit-Frere (Tampa), ShaunWade (Jacksonville), LejondCavazos (Bradenton), Taron Vincent (Bradenton) andMarcus Williamson (Bradenton).

Alabamanotes: TheCrimsonTide rank in the top10in totaloffense, passing offense, scoringoffense, redzoneoffense, punt returns, tackles for loss and turnovers gained… They are32ndin total defense, 13th in scoring defense (19.0 points per game ),32 nd in passing defense ,13 thin rushing defense, 19th inpass efficiency defense and 15th in redzonedefense… QB MacJones leads the nation in completion percentage (77.0), pass efficiencyand yards per attempt (11.3) and is second inpassing yards and touchdownpasses… He is man Trophy winner De Von ta Smith leads the nation with20touchdown catches… RBNajee Harris leads the nation in points (162) and total touchdowns (27).

Quoted: Saban onwhetherornot it matters if the gameis a shootout ora defensive struggle:“I don’t think so. I think you have to dowhatyou have to do to execute, playwell in the game, give yourselfan opportunity towin. Every game can have an ebb and flowthatmayend up being a little bit different, andyou’ve just got to end up playing the next play and hope that you can do the things to finish the gameso you give yourselfan opportunity to be successful and have a chance towin.”

Nextgame: TheBuckeyes are scheduled to kick off the 2021 regular season Sept .2 at Minnesota. The CrimsonTide open

Sept. 4against Miami (Fla.) inAtlanta.

Prediction: Alabama45, OhioState31