In the past century, only Michigan has won more soccer games than the state of Ohio and Alabama, and only one win separates the Buckeyes and Crimson Tide.
Ohio State has won 929 games; Alabama has won 928. The Crimson Tide has 15 national championships, while the Buckeyes have claimed eight.
On January 11, Ohio State and Alabama will meet for the fifth time in their storied history – this time in the College Football Playoff National Championship (8:00 PM ET, ESPN / ESPN app) presented by AT&T at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens , Florida.
The No. 1-ranked Crimson Tide defeated No. 4 Notre Dame, 31-14, in a CFP semi-final at The Rose Bowl Game hosted by Capital One. No. 3 Ohio State was astonished when 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 CFP National Championship.
How Alabama got here: The Crimson Tide played a conference-only schedule due to the coronavirus pandemic and became the first team in SEC history to play 10-0 against conference foes during the regular season. It was Tide’s fifth unbeaten regular season under Nick Saban. Alabama won each of its 10 regular season games by 15 points or more (seven on four touchdowns or more), including a 28-point route from then No. 13 Texas A&M, 17 points over No. 3 Georgia, and 29 points over No. 22 Auburn . Alabama’s hardest test was a 52-46 win over No. 7 Florida in the SEC championship game, in which the Gators scored 29 points in the second half and piled 462 yards of fouls to nearly overcome an 18-point deficit. The Tide improved to 5-1 in the CFP semi-finals with their win over Notre Dame on Friday.
Alabama offensive player to watch: WR DeVonta Smith. The senior is a Heisman Trophy finalist and this week became the first wide receiver to win AP college footballer of the year since the award was awarded in 1998. In the six games for the CFP semifinal, Smith had 53 catches for 955 yards with 13 touchdowns, while a total of 199 yards with a touchdown on eight punt returns. In the first 11 games, Smith accounted for 768 of his 1,511 receiving yards on yards after the catch.
Alabama defensive player to watch: CB Patrick Surtain II. The junior was Pro Football Focus’s top corner in the FBS en route to the Rose Bowl and No. 10 overall with a score of 87.0 in the first 11 games. According to PFF, Smith had a coverage of 86.3, coming sixth in the FBS and second in the Power 5. Before facing the Fighting Irish, Surtain had allowed just 18 completes on 43 targets with more than 460 total snaps. He had allowed a completion once every 24.2 snaps, which was in third place among FBS players.
Matchup favoring the Crimson Tide: Alabama wide receivers versus Ohio state secondary. Even without Jaylen Waddle, the Tide’s group of receivers is a nightmare for any team. The Buckeyes held up well against Clemson’s thin receiver corps, but they were last in the Big Ten in defense of the pass in the first six games, with 261.3 yards per game. The Buckeyes got Clemson’s Amari Rodgers out of the game well, but the Tide has more weapons.
Individual matchup to watch: Alabama defensive coordinator Pete Golding vs. Ohio State QB Justin Fields. Fields put together the game of a lifetime against Clemson in the Sugar Bowl, throwing for 385 yards with six touchdowns in the Buckeyes’ stunning rout. Fields looked confused in previous games against Indiana and Northwestern, when he threw five interceptions together and was fired eight times. He was virtually flawless in every other game. Golding has been criticized for inconsistent play in Alabama’s defense, and he will have to put in place 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’s kicker took to the field in the postseason. Not this season. Reichard, a sophomore from Hoover, Alabama, was a perfect 12-for-12 on field goals, including a 52-year-old against Georgia, and 73-for-73 on extra points in the first 11 games. He is a finalist for the Lou Groza Award.
Alabama will win if: The Tide’s line of attack protects Mac Jones. Alabama’s offensive line is very good, led by tackle Alex Leatherwood and guard Deonte Brown. If the Tide can protect Jones and give him time, he will likely do what he’s been doing all season. His 3,739 passing yards were the most of an Alabama quarterback in the first 11 games, and he completed 75.6% of his tries with 32 touchdowns and four interceptions.
What is at stake for AlabamaAlabama is aiming for its 16th national championship, the most in the AP poll era and the second most in college football history. Yale won 18 national titles from 1874 to 1927. Saban would win his seventh national title in the past 16 years, including six in Alabama. His seven national titles (he won one at LSU in 2003) would take him out of a tie with legendary Tide coach Paul “Bear” Bryant, for the most by any coach in college football history.
How Ohio State got here: The Buckeyes did not start until Oct. 24 after the Big Ten delayed the start of the season over concerns about COVID-19. Ohio State defeated two ranked teams during the regular season: then-No. 18 Penn State 38-25 on the road Oct. 31, then # 9 Indiana 42-35 at home Nov. 21. Three of Ohio State’s regular season games were canceled due to problems with the coronavirus. The Big Ten voted on December 9 to change the policy that teams had to play six games to qualify for the conference championship game. Despite not having 22 players, including leading receiver Chris Olave and starting linebacker Baron Browning, the Buckeyes defeated then-no. 14 Northwestern 22-10 in the Big Ten championship game to win their fourth straight league title.
Offensive player from the state of Ohio to watch: While quarterback Justin Fields is the transfer that gets the most attention for the Buckeyes, running back Trey Sermon, who played for Oklahoma for the previous three seasons, is just as important. The graduate transfer from Marietta, Georgia has gotten hold of Ohio State’s last three games. He rushed 112 yards with one touchdown in a 52-12 win over Michigan State in the final game of the Buckeyes’ regular season, then had a school record of 331 yards with two scores on 29 carry against Northwestern in the Big Ten championship game. He broke Eddie George’s OSU single-game record of 314 yards against Illinois in 1995, and his hasty total was the highest ever in a conference title game. Sermon had 112 yards on 17 carries in the first half with Master Teague offside. According to ESPN Stats & Information research, Sermon had 524 rush yards in the past two games, the most in a two-game stretch by an OSU player in history.
Ohio State defensive player to watch: Ohio State LB Pete Werner. He was the Buckeyes’ lead tackler on his way to the CFP semifinals and was instrumental in taking out Tigers file Travis Etienne. Werner moved in from outside linebacker this season and had 37 tackles, 2½ tackles for loss and one sack in the first six games. He’s very good at covering tight ends and running backs and will be important in his attempt to slow down Alabama’s Najee Harris.
Matchup that favors the Buckeyes: DT Haskell Garrett of Ohio State vs. Chris Owens of Alabama C. Garrett was shot in the face and spent two days in the hospital in early September. The Las Vegas senior was only medically approved to play four days before the opener this season. He has emerged as one of the best inner linemen in the country with 17 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 2 sacks and 1 interception in the first six games. According to Pro Football Focus, Garrett was the highest defensive lineman in the FBS with a score of 92.1 ahead of the CFP semifinals. Owens was pushed into the starting line-up when starter Landon Dickerson tore his ACL against Florida in the SEC championship game.
Individual matchup to watch: CB Shaun Wade of Ohio State vs. Alabama WR DeVonta Smith. Wade dropped out of the season to prepare for the NFL draft, but changed his mind and was the leader of OSU’s secondary. Mel Kiper Jr. ranks him as the fourth-best cornerback prospect for the 2021 NFL draft. Wade was named All-American by ESPN and The Associated Press, and he is OSU’s first winner of the Big Ten’s Tatum-Woodson defensive back of the year award.
Ohio State X Factor: Fields took a vicious shot to the ribs by Clemson senior linebacker James Skalski with 5:57 going into the second quarter. Skalski was ejected to aim and Fields slowly got up and appeared to be in pain. He missed one game before returning to throw a touchdown to wide receiver Chris Olave for a 28-14 lead over the Tigers. He wore extra padding on his left for the rest of the match. Fields had sustained a thumb injury, but he seemed ready to go. Will the rib injury linger for the next 10 days before facing the Crimson Tide? It didn’t seem like it, as he threw six touchdowns against Clemson.
Ohio State will win if: The Buckeyes play as if they were playing against Clemson. They completely dismantled the Tigers in the Sugar Bowl and took a 35-14 lead at half time. Fields was in full control, using his running backs and tight ends to exploit Clemson’s defenses. Defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs has a great plan in place 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 the state of Ohio: The Buckeyes are 23-1 in the second season of coach Ryan Day. After waiting 34 years to win a national title, Ohio State may win its third since 2002. It defeated Miami 31-24 in two overtime to win the 2003 Fiesta Bowl under Jim Tressel, then defeated Oregon 42-20 to win the first CFP. under Urban Meyer in 2015.