Alabama advances to College Football Playoff national championship game

Alabama advances to College Football Playoff national championship game

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The top-ranked Crimson Tide advanced to the College Football Playoff national championship game, beating fourth-placed Fighting Irish 31-14 in the Rose Bowl semifinal on Friday.

Alabama (12-0) will face No. 2 Clemson (10-1) or No. 3 Ohio State (6-0) in the championship game. Clemson and Ohio State play in the other semifinal, the Sugar Bowl, in New Orleans.

The Rose Bowl semifinal game was moved from the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, due to restrictions on the Covid-19 pandemic. The game was relocated because the families of the football teams would not have been able to watch the game in Pasadena. The audience announced on Friday in Arlington was 18,373.

“We’ve played here (AT&T Stadium) before,” said Alabama coach Nick Saban. “I think this is one of the best places in college football. I don’t think there is anything like the Rose Bowl. The tradition, the scenery, the mountains, it is a phenomenal experience to play in the Rose Bowl. I wish our players would have had this opportunity, but at the same time, these people did a phenomenal job of transitioning from the Rose Bowl here. “

Alabama was led by Heisman finalists, Mac Jones and DeVonta Smith, in the attack. Jones completed 25 of 30 passes for 297 yards and four touchdowns. Smith, the first wide receiver to win the Associated Press award for best player of the year, managed seven passes for 130 yards, drawing with a Rose Bowl Record with three touchdown captures. In addition, Najee Harris ran for 125 yards on 15 loads and had 30 yards on reception.
The four finalists of the Heisman 2020 Trophy are from Alabama, Clemson and Florida

Notre Dame (10-2) ends the season with consecutive losses, the other reaching Clemson in the ACC title game.

Irish fighter Brian Kelly didn’t seem to like the reporters’ line of questioning after losing again at the College Football Playoff; Notre Dame lost 30-3 to Clemson in the semifinals two seasons ago.

“We’re not leaving,” said Kelly. “Great year. It’s not where we wanted to be. We wanted to win a national championship. But, Notre Dame nation, you can get some sleep, recharge your battery and let’s put ourselves back in this position. So you don’t have to jump off a bridge, a building. We’re going to keep working, we’re going to rededicate ourselves in the off season, back in the weight room, and we hope to be back here in Dallas next year. “

The national championship game is scheduled for January 11 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

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