2021 CFP National Championship Preview

The Ohio State Buckeyes will take on the Alabama Crimson Tide in the College Football Playoff National Championship title game. Ohio State won their previous meeting with Alabama in the 2015 Allstate Sugar Bowl and would go on to win the first CFP National Championship, 42-35 against Oregon.

Ohio State enters the 2021 National Championship with a 7-0 overall record and an impressive performance in the Sugar Bowl defeating the Clemson Tigers 48-28. Buckeyes quarterback Justin Fields had a record-setting performance in the Sugar Bowl, completing 22 of 28 passes for 385 passing yards, six touchdowns, and one interception. Fields’ performance set a new Ohio State record for passing yards in a bowl game. The previous record of 342 passing yards was held by former quarterback Troy Smith, set against Norte Dame in the 2006 Fiesta Bowl.

The Buckeyes are coached by head coach Ryan Day. Under Day’s leadership, Ohio State has back-to-back CFP appearances for the first time in program history. Day has an overall win-loss record of 23-1, including a 10-1 overall record against the AP top 25 teams.

Alabama enters the 2021 National Championship with a 12-0 record this season and are coming off a dominating performance in the 2021 Rose Bowl, defeating Norte Dame by a score of 34-14. With that win, Alabama advanced to its’ fifth CFP National Championship game appearance in the last six seasons. Against Notre Dame, the Crimson Tide led by as much as 24 points in the fourth quarter.

Alabama has one of the top offenses in the nation and it showed against Notre Dame. Alabama’s offense is led by quarterback Mac Jones and newly minted Heisman Trophy winner, wide receiver Devonta Smith. This dominant duo combined for a total of 437 yards and averaged 79 yards per play during their dominant Rose Bowl win.

Key Alabama players to watch during the 2021 CFP National Championship will be Smith and cornerback Patrick Surtian II. So far this season, Smith has 105 catches, for 1,641 yards and 20 touchdowns. These are absolutely insane numbers. Heading into the match against Notre Dame, Surtian had only allowed only eighteen completions on forty-three targets over 460 season snaps. Surtain is widely considered as one of the best cornerbacks in the country and is a potential NFL 1st round pick.

The Ohio State secondary may be facing their biggest challenge yet with Alabama’s wide receivers. Even with wide receiver Jaylen Waddle injured, the Alabama receivers are a nightmare for any team. Though the Buckeyes did hold up well against Clemson’s thin receiver group in the Sugar Bowl, this is a completely different situation as Alabama is so deep at receiver. The Buckeyes were ranked last in the Big Ten for pass defense in their first six games of the season, allowing 261.3 yards per game. This game will definitely be a challenge for the Ohio State defense given how lethal and dynamic the Alabama offense has been this season.

During the Buckeyes dominant win over Clemson, Fields was injured on a big hit to his midsection but he was able to come back and finish the game. After the game, Day spoke about Fields’ performance to media members.

“First off, we saw the way that Justin finished the game, it was remarkable,” said Day. “I thought that was one of the gutsiest performances I’ve ever seen in person. It was like any other situation. It was certainly high profile to see it all go down, but I leave all that stuff up to our medical staff who are the best in the country. Fields is such a competitive guy and he wasn’t going to come off the field, and that’s just the way he’s wired. You were going to have to force him off the field.”

Fields is expected to play in the National Championship, however, Day would not reveal the extent or condition of his injury.

Earlier in the week, Alabama Head Coach Nick Sabon was asked by members of the media if there is any more or less satisfaction from winning a defensive battle, versus winning in an offensive shootout. His response was classic Saban.

“I don’t think so, I think you do what you have to do execute, play well in the game, give yourself an opportunity to win.”

Ohio State has the talent to win the 2021 National Championship but the question is how? The Buckeyes need Fields to have a fantastic game and at least match, or exceed his performance in the Sugar Bowl victory. Fields was in complete control during that game and did a great job utilizing his tight ends, as well as his running backs and was able to expose the weaknesses in the Clemson defense.

While Buckeyes Defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs put together a dominant game plan against Clemson, he will need to create another fantastic game plan and focus on keeping pressure on Jones all night during the National Championship Game. Though he’ll also have to focus on the Alabama pass catchers and the always deadly Crimson Tide rushing attack, led by running back Najee Harris.

The National Championship Game will be played at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on January 11th, 2021 at 8pm EST and can be watched on ESPN.

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