With a 24-7 victory against Washington in the Peach Bowl, Alabama is back in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game for a rematch against Clemson.
There will be plenty of discussion about what the Crimson Tide need to do to emerge victorious against Deshaun Watson and Clemson for the second year in a row, but let’s take a moment to look back at how Alabama got back.
Here are the 10 reasons Alabama was able to return to the title game.
1. Defense, defense, defense: Simply, it’s the best Nick Saban has had. It’s first nationally in points allowed (11.4) and stopping the run. And that’s before they get their hands on the ball.
If there was one hallmark of the Crimson Tide this season, it is their ability to score at any moment. Alabama’s 15 non-offensive touchdowns are by far the most in the country, and the defense provided 11 of them.
Ryan Anderson’s pick-six, which provided a huge swing in momentum against Washington, was just the latest example of how quickly this team can turn the tables. Without the three non-offensive touchdowns Alabama scored against Ole Miss, it might not have won.
2. Return of key veteran pieces: Alabama’s quest for a second consecutive national championship received a boost with the return of some very important veterans. When Jonathan Allen, Tim Williams, O.J. Howard, Eddie Jackson and Reuben Foster announced their intentions to return for another run, the Crimson Tide became the team to beat once again.
3. Development of Jalen Hurts: As has been the case with Alabama in recent years, a new quarterback was going to be in the mix this season. Blake Barnett was expected to be the man to lead the Crimson Tide in 2016, but true freshman Jalen Hurts won the battle and has added a new dimension to the offense. Although Hurts struggled in the Playoff semifinal, his performance this season has been crucial for Alabama.
4. Offensive scheme changes: Because of Hurts’ unique dual-threat talents, Alabama’s offense became much more fluid than in recent years. There was a transition from the downhill power game that has defined the Crimson Tide’s run offense during Nick Saban’s decade of dominance, and a shift toward a run/pass option-based plan. The result? Alabama is on pace to set a program record for most points in a season.
5. Growth of players in secondary: Injuries have slowly impacted Alabama’s secondary, but sophomores Marlon Humphrey, Minkah Fitzpatrick and Ronnie Harrison negated the losses. The trio has a combined 10 interceptions and five defensive touchdowns this season.
6. Versatility on the perimeter: Calvin Ridley was more involved last year, but he and ArDarius Stewart have formed a dangerous duo. Stewart’s speed and abilities on sweeps and screens blend nicely with Ridley’s playmaking downfield. The Crimson Tide have always had a dominant receiver who can make plays, but this group feels like a more versatile unit than we’ve seen recently.
7. Single-game mentality: Saban has always preached “The Process.” His teams never look unprepared or lack focus, and this year’s squad is no different. As talented a Crimson Tide team as any, they could have easily become overconfident and slipped at some point during their tough schedule. Instead, Alabama took a single-game approach to the season and is right back where it wanted to be.
8. Key depth: Alabama’s depth is what truly makes the Tide special. Losing Eddie Jackson was a big blow to the secondary, but Tony Brown has stepped in seamlessly. The front seven has starters-in-waiting like Rashaan Evans, Da’Shawn Hand and Christian Miller. There’s a reason Alabama separates from teams in the second half, and that’s because nobody can match the Crimson Tide’s two-deep.
9. Dominant play in the trenches: Saban’s key philosophy is dominance on the line of scrimmage. His offensive and defensive lines are rarely outmatched and can take over games at times. One of the best freshmen to take the field for Alabama this season was right tackle Jonah Williams, who might have been the Tide’s top lineman. A stellar pass rush and a physically-imposing offensive line have Alabama right back among the nation’s top two teams.
10. Bo Scarbrough: Let’s not forget the person who helped put the Crimson Tide back in the national championship game. Scarbrough set an Alabama bowl record with 180 yards and 2 touchdowns on 19 carries. It was a remarkable performance from the Crimson Tide’s backup running back, and Scarbrough’s emergence is happening at the best possible time for this offense.
William McFadden covers the University of Georgia and the University of Alabama for Saturday Down South. For insight on these two SEC powerhouses, follow him on Twitter @willmcfadden.
