Over the past century, only Michigan has won more football games than the states of Ohio and Alabama, and only one victory separates Buckeyes and Crimson Tide.
Ohio State has won 929 games; Alabama has won 928. The Crimson Tide have 15 national championships, while the Buckeyes have won eight.
On January 11, the state of Ohio and Alabama will meet for the fifth time in their history, this time at the university’s National Football Playoff Championship (8pm ET, ESPN / ESPN app) presented by AT&T at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Crimson Tide, No. 1, beat No. 4 Notre Dame No. 31-14 in a PCP semifinal at The Rose Bowl Game presented by Capital One. The No. 3 Ohio State stunned No. 2 Clemson 49-28 in the Allstate Sugar Bowl.
The Buckeyes won their last meeting against the Crimson Tide, a 42-35 victory in the Sugar Bowl in 2015.
Here’s everything you need to know about the 2021 PCP National Championship.
How Alabama got here: Playing a conference-only program due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Crimson Tide became the first team in SEC history to go 10-0 against conference enemies during the regular season. It was the fifth unbeaten regular season of the tide under Nick Saban. Alabama won each of its 10 regular season games by 15 points or more (seven for four touchdowns or more), including a 28-point loss from then-No. 13 Texas A&M, 17 points over No. 3 Georgia and 29 points over No. 22 Auburn. Alabama’s toughest test was a 52-46 victory over Florida’s No. 7 in the SEC championship game, in which the Gators scored 29 points in the second half and amassed 462 offensive yards. to overcome almost a deficit of 18 points. The tide improved to 5-1 in the CFP semifinal games with their win over Notre Dame on Friday.
Alabama offensive player to watch: WR DeVonta Smith. The senior is a finalist for the Heisman Trophy and this week became the first receiver to win an AP college football player year since the award was established in 1998. In the six games prior to the semifinals of the PCP, Smith had 53 catches for 955 yards with 13 touchdowns, while totaling 199 yards with a touchdown on eight point returns. In the first 11 games, Smith accounted for 768 of his 1,511 yards received in yards after the catch.
Alabama defensive player to watch: CB Patrick Surtain II. The junior was the top corner for Pro Football Focus on the FBS heading to the Rose Bowl and the No. 10 defensive player overall with a grade of 87.0 in the first 11 games. According to PFF, Smith had a coverage rating of 86.3, ranking sixth on FBS and second on Power 5. Prior to facing the Fighting Irish, Surtain had only allowed 18 accomplishments in 43 goals over 460 catches. totals. He had made it possible to complete it once every 24.2 snapshots, ranking third among FBS players.
Confrontation that favors the Crimson Tide: Alabama wide receivers versus Ohio State side. Even without Jaylen Waddle injured, the Tide receiver group is a nightmare for any team. The Buckeyes held up well to Clemson’s slim receivers, but were ranked last in the Big Ten in passing defense in the first six games, allowing 261.3 yards per game. The Buckeyes did a good job taking Amari Rodgers out of Clemson out of the game, but the Tide has more weapons.
Individual confrontation to see: Pete Golding, Alabama’s defensive coordinator, against Ohio State QB’s Justin Fields. Fields put together his lifetime game against Clemson in the Sugar Bowl, throwing for 385 yards with six touchdowns in the Buckeyes ’impressive wrap. Fields looked confused in previous games against Indiana and Northwestern, when he combined to throw five interceptions and was fired eight times. He was almost flawless in every other game. Golding has been criticized for Alabama’s inconsistent defensive play and will have to come up with a solid game plan to pressure Fields.
Alabama X Factor: K Will Reichard. In the past, Alabama fans held their collective breath when the tide shooter hit the field in the postseason. Not this season. Reichard, a sophomore from Hoover, Alabama, was a perfect 12-on-12 on field goals, including a 52-yard touchdown run against Georgia and a 73-for-73 lead with extra points in the first 11 games. She is a finalist for the Lou Groza Award.
Alabama will win if: The Tide offensive line protects Mac Jones. Alabama’s offensive line is very good, led by attacking Alex Leatherwood and guard Deonte Brown. If the Tide can protect Jones and give him time in his pocket, he’ll probably do what he’s done all season. His 3,739 passing yards were more than an Alabama quarterback during the first 11 games, and he was completing 75.6% of his attempts with 32 touchdowns and four interceptions.
What is at stake for Alabama: Alabama aims for its 16th national championship, the highest in the era of AP polls and the second highest in the history of college football. Yale won 18 national titles from 1874 to 1927. Saban would win his seventh national title in the last 16 years, including six in Alabama. His seven national titles (he won one at LSU in 2003) would take him out of the playoffs with legendary Tide coach Paul “Bear” Bryant as a coach in college football history.
How Ohio State Came: The Buckeyes did not start until Oct. 24 after the Big Ten delayed the start of the season due to concerns about COVID-19. Ohio State defeated two ranked teams during the regular season: the then no. 18 Penn State 38-25 on the road on Oct. 31 and then-No. 9 Indiana 42-35 at home on November 21st. Three of Ohio State’s regular season games were canceled due to coronavirus problems. The Big Ten voted Dec. 9 to change their policy that teams had to play six games to qualify for the conference championship game. Despite not having 22 players, including main receiver Chris Olave and starting striker Baron Browning, the Buckeyes defeated the then No. 1 seed. 14 Northwest 22-10 in the Big Ten championship game to win their fourth consecutive league title.
Ohio State offensive player to watch: While quarterback Justin Fields is the move that catches the Buckeyes ’attention, the third Trey Sermon, who played in Oklahoma the previous three seasons, is just as important. The transfer of graduates from Marietta, Georgia, has carried the burden in the last three games in the state of Ohio. He ran 112 yards with a touchdown in a 52-12 win over Michigan State in the Buckeyes’ last regular-season game, then held a 331-yard school record with two runs in 29 runs against Northwestern in the game. Big Ten championship. He broke the 314-yard OSU record set by Eddie George against Illinois in 1995, and his rush total was the largest in a conference title game. Sermon had 112 yards on 17 gates in the first half with Master Teague offside. According to ESPN Stats & Information research, Sermon had 524 running yards in the last two games, most in a two-game stretch of an OSU player in history.
Ohio State defensive player to watch: Ohio State LB Pete Werner. He was the first Buckeyes striker to make it to the PCP semifinals and helped close out Travis Etienne, the Tigers’ tailback. Werner moved from the outside line of defense inside this season and had 37 attacks, 2½ attacks per loss and one sack in the first six games. He’s very good at coverage against tight ends and currents and will be important in trying to slow down Alabama’s Najee Harris.
Confrontation that favors the Buckeyes: Ohio State DT Haskell Garrett vs. Alabama C Chris Owens. Garrett was shot in the face and spent two days in hospital in early September. The Las Vegas senior did not have medical permission to play this season until just four days before the opening. He has become one of the best inside liners in the country with 17 attacks, 4 attacks per defeat, 2 sacks and 1 interception in the first six games. According to Pro Football Focus, Garrett was the most qualified defensive lineman in the FBS with a score of 92.1 before the PCP semifinals. Owens entered the starting lineup when incumbent Landon Dickerson broke his ACL against Florida in the SEC championship game.
Individual confrontation to see: Ohio State CB Shaun Wade vs. Alabama WR DeVonta Smith. Wade opted for the season to prepare for the NFL draft, but changed his mind and has been the leader of OSU High School. Mel Kiper Jr. ranks him as the fourth-best cornerback player in the 2021 NFL Draft. Wade was named All-American by ESPN and The Associated Press, and is the first OSU winner of the Big Ten Defensive Tatum-Woodson defensive award .
Ohio State X Factor: Fields threw a cruel shot at the ribs of Clemson’s main defender James Skalski with 5:57 left for the second quarter. Skalski was sent off for attacking and Fields took a long time to get up and seemed to be in pain. He missed a play before returning to throw a touchdown to wide receiver Chris Olave with a 28-14 lead over the Tigers. He wore an extra padding on his left side for the rest of the match. Fields had been nursing a thumb injury, but seemed ready to start. Will the rib injury persist for the next 10 days before facing the Crimson Tide? It didn’t look like it, as he threw six touchdowns against Clemson.
Ohio State will win yes: The Buckeyes play like they played against Clemson. They completely dismantled the Tigers in the Sugar Bowl, getting a 35-14 lead at the break. Fields had complete control and used his back currents and tight ends to exploit Clemson’s defense. Defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs drew up a big game plan to put pressure on Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, a Heisman Trophy finalist, and the Buckeyes will also have to put pressure on Jones.
What is at stake for Ohio State?: The Buckeyes are 23-1 in the second season of coach Ryan Day. After waiting 34 years to win a national title, Ohio State can win its third since 2002. It defeated Miami 31-24 in two overtimes to win the 2003 Fiesta Bowl under the direction of Jim Tressel, and then beat Oregon 42-20 to win the first CFP under Urban Meyer in 2015.