The Alabama Crimson Tide dominated the Ohio State Buckeyes in the National Championship Monday to capture its 18th National Championship in school history.
The Tide’s offense proved to be too much for Ohio State to handle in its 52-24 win. DeVonta Smith put together a record-setting performance with 12 receptions for 215 yards and three touchdowns before he left the game with an injury. Mac Jones finished the night with 464 passing yards and five touchdowns.
Najee Harris was an asset in the receiving game with his 79-yard receiving performance. Harris finished with two rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown.
On the defensive side of the football, Christian Harris led Alabama in tackles and was followed by Christian Barmore and Dylan Moses. Barmore put together another solid performance overall.
Harris got the Crimson Tide on the board first with a one-yard rushing score after Alabama’s defense forced Ohio State’s offense to go three and out on its first drive. The Buckeyes got on the board on the following drive with an eight-yard touchdown run from Master Teague to tie the score 7-7. Smith got the Crimson Tide back on top with a five-yard touchdown reception to make the score 14-7.
Alabama’s defense forced Ohio State to punt on the following drive. A Mac Jones fumble gifted the Buckeyes with great field position on the next drive. Teague took advantage of this field position by running a score in from four-yards out to knot things up at 14. The Tide answered this score with a 22-yard touchdown reception from Jones and Harris to go back up by seven.
The Buckeyes’ next drive stalled out, and they had to settle with a field goal to make the score 21-17. Smith helped Alabama stretched its lead to 11 points with a touchdown reception-on Alabama’s next possession. That was not Alabama’s final score of the half as they took a commanding 35-17 lead late in the second thanks to a 42-yard reception from Smith.
Will Reichard put Alabama on the board first in the third quarter with a 20-yard field goal. Justin Fields and the Buckeyes showed they were not ready to roll over yet with a 20-yard strike from Fields to Garret Wilson to make the score 38-24. Jones and Alabama continued to roll on the next drive, which was capped off by a Slade Bolden receiving touchdown.
After Alabama’s defense forced an Ohio State turnover on downs, Harris ran in his second score of the night to make the score 52-24.
This win gives Nick Saban seven National Championship as a head coach. He won six of those as Alabama’s head coach.
