It’s New Year’s Eve and Alabama is about to play Notre Dame in the Rose Bowl. It is quite a phrase read in any other context, but there is still interest in this national semifinal, even if it is not played in Pasadena.
Here is a look at what is being written the day before the Crimson Tide and Irish start in Arlington, Texas.
– Notre Dame tries to erase the painful memory of the last encounter with Alabama (Forbes)
– Mac Jones and Alabama seem invincible, but Brian Kelly and Notre Dame cannot afford to lose this CFP game (Forbes)
– Is Notre Dame ready to beat Alabama and the college football elite when it matters most? (ESPN)
– Things to learn: Notre Dame’s ‘bread and butter’ and its latest TEs, possibly Alabama’s weakness (NBC Sports)
– Playoffs semifinals feature family teams amid requests for change (AJC)
– BOZICH | Who is Darth Vader in the four college football playoff finals? (WDRB)
– Why four teams dominate college football playoffs (Wall Street Journal)
– College football is broken. See how it can be fixed. (Yahoo Sports)
– The crucial moment in the season for all four teams from the College Football Playoff (USA Today)
– Noie: Rose Bowl gives Notre Dame a chance to set off the big game narrative (South Bend Tribune)
– Notebook: Clark Lea dissects the Slim Reaper, the defense defense of Notre Dame and the double duty (South Bend Tribune)
– Drew White plays the ‘manic’ man in the middle of the defense of Notre Dame (South Bend Tribune)
– BGI team predictions: Notre Dame vs. Alabama (illustrated in blue and gold)
– Notre Dame-Alabama: Taking the offensive (illustrated in blue and gold)
– How Notre Dame in Alabama can win Friday’s Rose Bowl (CNHI Sports Indiana)
– Column: Irish, once again, have a chance to change the narrative (CNHI Sports Indiana)
– Irish, Alabama have evolved since the 2013 title game (CNHI Sports Indiana)