There was no bad luck in the Heisman Trophy for Alabama’s wide receiver DeVonta Smith on Monday night. The college football star destroyed Ohio State’s pass defense in the 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship, breaking the playoff and SEC records before Crimson Tide reached the break of what would turn out to be a 52-24 victory.
In the first 30 minutes of the game, Smith accumulated 12 receptions on 14 targets for 215 yards and three touchdowns. These 12 catches were the most important in the history of the National CFP Championship.
“Young people just working, every week, knowing that if someone fell, they would have to go in and do something big,” said Smith after receiving the game’s offensive MVP trophy. “I believed in them from the start and that’s what we do. That’s why you come to Bama.”
But Smith’s record night was interrupted when he dislocated a finger from his right hand at the start of the third half. After being looked at by the team coaches in the side medical tent, Smith was taken to the locker room with a towel over his right hand.
“Well, he really dislocated his finger,” said Alabama coach Nick Saban. “I told Smitty after the game, I said, you are the only player I know who lost an entire half because of your finger. It was out of place and they couldn’t get it back. If they had it back, he it would be fine. He really wanted to play, we just don’t allow it. “
Smith was just 7 yards from breaking the record for a single LSU game WR Ja’Marr Chase of receiving game yards for the CFP title. Chase established that 221-yard mark against Clemson last year.
Speaking of Chase, Smith also broke the SEC’s single-season receiving yards record previously held by the LSU wideout. With his 200-yard performance in the first half, Smith finished 1,856 yards in the year, beating Chase’s 1,780-yard record set a year ago, and a SEC record in a single season of 23 touchdowns. Smith also became the SEC’s all-time leading receiver in the game, with 3,965 career yards.
Ohio tried everything to cover Smith, but nothing worked. He showed escape speed on both the capture and run routes …
… as well as vertical separation capability. His third touchdown in the first half came in a mismatch against Ohio state linebacker Tuf Borland. It was just as bad for the Buckeyes as you can imagine.
Although Smith was not able to beat his best game to receive yards (274) or Chase’s record in the 221 yard league received, Alabama still ended up with 464 yards passing with six other players taking at least one pass.
“He is a great competitor. I heard someone say that he set some kind of record in the first half of the game,” said Saban. “God only knows what he would have done if he played the whole game. But you are talking about the final warrior, the final competitor. I am very happy that he was recognized as the best college football player because I don’t think anyone has done more for your team than for our team. “