Trey Sermon is Ohio State’s leading rusher, but he had his best game of the season on Friday in the College Football Playoff semifinal win over Clemson. Sermon had 31 carries for 193 rushing yards and a touchdown.

At a Monday press conference to preview the national championship, Alabama coach Nick Saban noted Sermon’s recent success.

“He’s playing outstanding football right now, there’s no doubt about that,” Saban said. “He had a fantastic game against Clemson. I think they have two really good running backs, both are very capable. Their offensive line does a really good job blocking your looks up front, getting a hat on a hat. The runners are very talented, so the combination of the explosive ability they have in the passing game, the good receivers that they have outside, the speed that they have, the way they’re going to stretch the field with the playmakers they have. The quarterback can run or pass, and can make all the throws. So it’s just a good all-around team and they’ve got great balance and I think that’s what makes them very difficult to defend.”

The Oklahoma transfer in the Big Ten Championship Game against Northwestern had 331 rushing yards on 29 carries, with two touchdowns. He’s on a three-game streak of 100-yard rushing games as Sermon also had 112 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries against Michigan State.