Minkah Fitzpatrick says he thanked Iowa LB for 'beating up on Ohio State'

The Alabama Crimson Tide just barely snuck into the College Football Playoff this year over Big Ten champion Ohio State.

One of the biggest reasons the Tide were awarded the No. 4 seed instead of the Buckeyes was a 55-24 loss the Buckeyes had at Iowa earlier this year.

Alabama DB Minkah Fitzpatrick knows he has Iowa to thank for his latest chance at a national title, so he sought out Iowa LB Josey Jewell during Wednesday’s media availability before Thursday’s College Football Awards Show in Atlanta to thank the Hawkeye defender for handing Ohio State such a decisive loss:

Minkah Fitzpatrick said he thanked Iowa LB Josey Jewell for beating Ohio State, 55-24, and helping Alabama reach the #CFBPlayoff.

"I just said, 'Thank you for beating up on Ohio State.'"

— Charlie Potter (@Charlie_Potter) December 7, 2017

Of course, Alabama doesn’t exactly have an easy path to the title, as they’ll have to go through last year’s champion, Clemson, in the semifinals on New Year’s Day.

Still, the Tide are in the mix for yet another title, and that’s something that wouldn’t have happened if not for the Hawkeyes’ big night against the Buckeyes.