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Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET, Thursday, Jan. 1
Where: Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, La.
TV: ESPN
Westgate Superbook line: Alabama -8.5
College football’s first playoffs are here, and No. 1 Alabama takes on No. 4 Ohio State in the second national semifinal game. The two national superpowers butting heads in New Orleans with a trip to Dallas and the College Football Playoff Championship on the line.
Old rivals Nick Saban and Urban Meyer meet once again, for the first time since Alabama upset Meyer’s No. 1 Florida Gators and Tim Tebow in the 2009 SEC Championship, the game that served as the starting point for Alabama’s current run of SEC dominance.
The Crimson Tide meet an Ohio State team that’s overcome the loss of its top two quarterbacks and an early loss to Virginia Tech, surging into the playoff in the final weeks of the season. The Buckeyes finished off their regular season in overwhelming fashion, beating Wisconsin 59-0 in the Big 10 Championhip.
Five things to watch
- Will Kirby Smart’s defense fluster Ohio State QB Cardale Jones? Smart has had a month to prepare for Jones’ second career start, which seems unfair on paper.
- How will Amari Cooper be used? In the SEC Championship, Cooper was basically an extension of the running game; will he break any deep balls?
- Can Alabama slow down Joey Bosa?
- Will Alabama’s defense against deep passes improve from recent outings? Both Nick Marshall and Maty Mauk found a way to burn the Crimson Tide, and Jones has as strong an arm as anyone in college football and explosive receivers to throw to.
- Will Blake Sims own the big stage? Alabama’s quarterback came up big in the second half of the Iron Bowl and throughout the SECCG, but didn’t fare as well to start against Auburn. He’ll have to be the steady passer Alabama has gotten all year.
Alabama
Motivation: Is motivation necessary with a trip to the national championship game on the line? Alabama is looking to reclaim its spot at the top of college football. The Tide had an disappointing effort in last year’s Sugar Bowl to up their desire just a little bit more.
If you’ve never seen them play: This is not your traditional Alabama team. With Saban giving Lane Kiffin control of the offense, Alabama moves the ball through the air far more than it has in the past and plays with more tempo. The offensive line and running game haven’t been their usual dominating selves, thanks to injuries over the course of the year. The defense is as punishing up front as ever, leading the nation in run defense, but they still have their issues with mobile quarterbacks.
Weakness: Special teams. Ray Guy finalist JK Scott is among the best punters in the country as a freshman, but the rest of Alabama’s special teams unit is filled with question marks. Kicker Adam Griffith has had major struggles in the latter part of the season, while Christion Jones is an adventure returning punts. Alabama certainly does not want to see this game come down to a last-second field goal try.
Ohio State
Motivation: The Buckeyes have as much drive as anyone to get up for the Sugar Bowl. The Big Ten is nationally disrespected as a conference, plus Meyer is going up against the man that fans like to say drove him out of the SEC. Ohio State has overcome doubters and adversity all year, and they’ll be looking to do it again.
If you’ve never seen them play: Ohio State had one of the most potent offenses in the country, led by J.T. Barrett before the freshman was lost to a leg injury in the Buckeyes’ regular-season finale. Ohio State has explosive talent on both sides of the ball all over the field, with dominant defensive end Joey Bosa and frightening freshman receiver Jalin Marshall, who happens to now be Ohio State’s backup quarterback behind Jones.
Weakness: Inexperience…maybe. Jones played like yet another quarterback star in his six quarters of action to end the season, but Alabama DC Smart is one of the very best in the country. Given a month to prepare for each other, reason would hold that Smart would have the upper hand in this matchup. Ohio State overcame the loss of Heisman candidate Braxton Miller before the season, and so far they’ve been okay without another Heisman contender, Barrett. The coaching battle between the Saban-Smart duo and Meyer and outgoing offensive coordinator Tom Herman makes for great theater, with Jones the main actor.
A former freelance journalist from Philadelphia, Brett has made the trek down to SEC country to cover the greatest conference in college football.
