RECAP: Ohio State prevails to beat Alabama 42-35
New Orleans La– There’s something in the water here in New Orleans that just doesn’t settle with the Crimson Tide. For the second consecutive year, The Alabama Crimson Tide came into the Superdome favored and end up falling short again, this time to the Ohio State Buckeyes 42-35.
In a game that has been anticipated since early December, the Crimson Tide played usual smash mouth football but with the sour result of defeat. While Ohio State was on their last leg for quarterback, Urban Meyer and company once again got the best of Nick Saban by having over 500 yards of total offense against the number 1 ranked run defense in the country.
From the get go Alabama had no answers for Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliot. Elliot, who averaged 6 yards a carry during the regular season ran for 230 with a pair of touchdowns to go along with it. The Crimson Tide struggled not only bringing him down, but also just making a tackle on him at all.
The biggest surprise was none other than Cardale Jones through the air. In his second collegiate game, Jones threw for 243 yards and a touchdown, not to mention 43 yards on the group as well. Jones a month ago just thought he’d be watching whatever bowl game the Buckeyes were in from the sidelines, now he has a chance to lead the Buckeyes to a national championship victory next week.
Alabama, who would have made it to their fourth national championship in six years if they won tonight, jumped out to an early 21-6 lead heading into the second quarter. The running attack looked strong in the first half with two touchdowns by Derrick Henry and TJ Yeldon. It seemed like they were going to Roll over the Buckeyes and punch their ticket to Dallas.
Then, Voodoo strucked the Alabama sideline
Cardale Jones started to pass, Ezekiel Elliot couldn’t be brought down and Blake Sims began to make careless mistakes. With a minute to go in the second quarter, Jones was able to find Devin Smith with a 47 yard touchdown to bring the Buckeyes within 1 before going into halftime. The Buckeyes had the momentum and didn’t let their foot off the break.
The Buckeyes scored 28 unanswered points within 20 minutes giving them the lead 34-28 heading into the fourth quarter. Then just as it all seemed like Alabama was going to make a come back, Elliot managed to find his way up the field for an 87 yard touchdown run putting the Buckeye’s up by 14 with three minutes to go.
“He’s probably the most underrated back in the United States,” Meyer said.
Alabama didn’t go down quietly however. With 1:59 left on the clock, Sims found receiver Amari Cooper for the 6 yard touchdown and the momentum. After forcing the Buckeyes to punt with 1:30 left, Alabama began the drive of a life time. With only 8 seconds left, Sims chucked one to Amari Cooper in the end zone for a hail mary before being pulled down by a Buckeye’s player, thus sealing the game.
This is the third time in the Nick Saban era that the Crimson Tide has lost in the Sugar Bowl (2008 vs Utah, 2014 vs Oklahoma). Not only that but this loss now ties Coach Saban and Coach Meyer with 2 wins and 2 losses a piece.
While the season may be over for the Crimson Tide, they also will have to say goodbye to a group of leaders who have been there since the beginning. Players like Nick Perry and Jalston Fowler have been with the team since back in 2009 when Alabama began the “dynasty” run. Not to mention Alabama will turn back to the drawing board at the quarterback position due to the graduation of Blake Sims.
The biggest question however will be of the underclassmen who have the chance to declare for the draft. While player like Cyrus Jones have announced they’ll return for their senior season, other such as potential first round prospects such as Amari Cooper, Landon Collins and TJ Yeldon have yet to make their decisions yet.
The sun sets in New Orleans for the Crimson Tide once again, but at least Alabama will forever be enshrined in history as members of the first ever college football playoff.
