The College Football Playoff will officially be underway at 3:00 p.m. CT.
Alabama is not new to the playoffs. They are tied with Clemson for the most playoff appearances, playoff wins and championships in the CFP era. So, needless to say, Bama has been here before and been quite successful along the way.
Notre Dame, on the other hand, has only been to the CFP once before, and that was a humiliating loss to Clemson back in 2018 in which they got beat 30-3.
Speaking of being here before, Alabama and Notre Dame have faced off in a National Championship in relatively recent history. Last time these two met was during the wind-down of the BCS era. Nick Saban and the Tide were just getting started on their way to dynasty status.
The Irish were demolished by Alabama, 42-14.
While some college football experts expect this game to be closer than it was in that 2012 BCS Championship game, horses ought to be held.
This may be the best Alabama team Saban has ever had. It may even be the best Alabama team ever — period — but let’s discuss that after a championship, because there is still work to be done.
However, Notre Dame should be just a small speed bump on Bama’s road to championship No. 18.
Quarterback Mac Jones is ready to propel himself, as well as his teammate DeVonta Smith, into a huge lead in the Heisman race.
Jones has already thrown for 3,739 yards this season, which is pretty unbelievable considering that was against only SEC teams. Smith has caught 98 passes for over 1,500 yards and should be able to break 100 total receptions in this game.
Smith understandably gets the most attention from fans and media, but there are plenty of other receivers that have stepped up after the unfortunate injury to Jaylen Waddle earlier in the season. John Metchie III and Slade Bolden have both stepped up big for the Tide when their numbers have been called.
The under-appreciated threat this year is the running attack that Alabama uses to keep chopping away at opposing defenses in order to open up the explosive passing attack that gets all of the attention these days.
Najee Harris has over 1,200 yards rushing this season and has been nearly impossible to bring down on first contact. Whether he hurdles you or runs through you, it isn’t going to be easy to bring him down. He will be a big part of this game and should be able to run all over the Irish’s defense.
The offensive line will look a little different this game with center Landon Dickerson out. Dickerson was without a doubt the leader of that line group and an MVP of the team this season. Losing him will be a massive disadvantage if they meet Clemson in the championship game, but against Notre Dame it may not be enough to make the Tide struggle.
Defensively, Alabama no longer has a worry like they did earlier this season. Now, Saban has got his defensive squad tuned up and looking like past Bama defenses. After the Ole Miss game, Saban made sure his boys would not struggle against high powered offenses any more this year.
Aside from the SEC Championship game, they haven’t struggled with anybody since Lane Kiffin’s squad. It would be shocking if Notre Dame was able to be the team to crack the Tide defense.
Overall, this game will be fun for Alabama fans to watch their team dominate a historically great program in a playoff game, but to outsiders this game probably will not be entertaining unless you love blowouts.
Hayden Crigler is a contributing college football writer for Yellowhammer News. You can contact him through email: [email protected] or on Twitter: @hayden_crigler.
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