Quick thoughts from Alabama’s 42-35 loss to Ohio State. 

What it means: There’s no way around it — Alabama was the second-best team on the field in New Orleans. Urban Meyer and Tom Herman outcoached Nick Saban and Lane Kiffin. In just his second careeer start, Cardale Jones outplayed Blake Sims. Alabama looked tight in its play calling and execution, not playing at all like the team that had owned the SEC this season. The Crimson Tide were heavy favorites, but Ohio State proved that it belonged on the field. The SEC’s run at the top of college football is now officially at an end; for the first time since 2005, there won’t be an SEC team in the national championship game.

What I liked: Derrick Henry’s potential. For some reason, the Crimson Tide didn’t feed their beast. Henry averaged 9.9 yards per touch, but only got his hands on the ball 15 times all night. Even without Amari Cooper and Blake Sims next year, the Tide’s offense should be in capable hands with a beast like Henry…if they hand it to him.

What I didn’t like: Third downs and play calling. For too much of the game, the Crimson Tide just couldn’t get off the field on third down. Ohio State converted 10-of-18 on the night, with Cardale Jones finding receivers wide open in the secondary and rumbling for first downs when he couldn’t. Alabama’s defense was visibly tired as the often got run over trying to bring down Jones, and they weren’t helped at all by their own offense. Alabama was just 2-for-13 converting third downs on offense, with several head-scratching play calls that helped short-circuit drives.

On top of that, Alabama didn’t get the ball to its best players near enough. Henry only had those 15 touches, while Cooper (nine catches, 71 yards, two touchdowns) wasn’t a big enough factor despite his two scores. The screens and short throws the Crimson Tide had used to get the ball to their superstar all season disappeared from the game plan, and as a result Sims struggled.

Key play: Ezekiel Elliott’s fourth quarter TD. Alabama lost two linebackers during the game, and Elliott took advantage of it. After Alabama couldn’t stop a third-and-short, Ohio State gave it to its star running back and he delivered. The sophomore was patient waiting for blocks to develop and sprinted past a tired and banged up Alabama defense for the deciding score. Alabama did just about everything they could to make up the deficit, Sims hit DeAndrew White on a big play Cooper for a score, then the Crimson Tide forced a three-and-out on a bizarre Ohio State possession. On Alabama’s final possession, they wasted far too much time and ended up having to heave a 40-yard Hail Mary as time expired that was picked off.

Who’s the man: JK Scott. The freshman punter proved that he’s one of the very best in the country, and it’s scary to think of how bad this game could have been for Alabama if he didn’t put five of his seven punts inside the 20-yard line. Scott averaged 55 yards per punt and was Alabama’s most effective weapon on the night.

What’s next: Alabama has a long offseason ahead. The Crimson Tide lost their second straight Sugar Bowl, this one with far more on the line. With Saban’s track record, its hard to second guess him, but Alabama has not been at its best in big games lately. There will be a lot of turnover with this team next year, and while the Crimson Tide will be near the top of the preseason rankings again, the aura of invincibility is gone.