Six years and a few days after a Buckeyes turnaround in the semifinals of the first edition of the College Football Playoff, Alabama took its revenge with a dominant 52-24 victory over the state of Ohio in the national championship game, ending an almost unbeaten undefeated season domain. Mac Jones finished 46 out of 54 in the air with five touchdown passes, DeVonta Smith supported his victory in the Heisman Trophy by picking up three of those touchdowns, and running back Najee Harris finally equipped him with three TDs.
Alabama jumped to a 7-0 lead in the first quarter, driving 78 yards in his first possession in the game after a 3-and-out in Ohio, but the Buckeyes responded with a touchdown of their own, with Master Teague bouncing off for an untouched score. The first quarter ended with the score tied at 7, but DeVonta Smith found the final zone in the first play of the second frame to put Alabama back in front, 14-7.
A Mac Jones fumbled deeply …