The No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes fell to the No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide, 52-24, in the 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship Game Monday evening at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.
Mac Jones led an Alabama offense with 464 passing yards and five touchdowns on 36-of-45 completions. Wide receiver DeVonta Smith collected 12 catches for 215 yards and three touchdowns in the first half before suffering a hand injury to start the third quarter to end his title performance.
On the Buckeye side, Master Teague found the end zone twice on 15 carries for 65 yards, while Chris Olave caught eight receptions for 69 yards. Trey Sermon left the game on the opening drive after suffering a shoulder injury and did not return.
The Buckeyes conclude the 2020 season at 7-1, winning their fourth Big Ten title in a row and making their fifth appearance in a national championship game in the BCS/CFP era.
Alabama struck the scoreboard first following a balanced 12-play, 78-yard drive. Running back Najee Harris powered into the end zone from one yard out on fourth down to make it a 7-0 game.
But the Buckeye offense answered quickly to even the tides. Running back Teague hit the edge and scored on an 8-yard touchdown run at 4:55. Tight end Jeremy Ruckert highlighted the drive with a fantastic one-handed, 35-yard grab through the middle of the Tide defense to push the Scarlet and Gray inside the red zone. The OSU drive went in eight plays for 75 yards in 3:12.
🔊 Teague takes it in for the Buckeyes’ first score
Jones and Smith were in sync for the Alabama offense to take an 18-point lead heading into halftime. On third down, Jones found Smith for a 6-yard touchdown connection to begin the second quarter. The drive took 4:58 in 11 plays for 75 yards for the Tide.
The Silver Bullet defense came up with a first-half turnover to help tie the game at 14-all. Linebacker Baron Browning rushed around the edge and forced a strip sack on Jones and recovered the fumble to put the Buckeyes deep in Alabama territory.
A Tide penalty set up an Ohio State touchdown run by Teague, who charged through Alabama tacklers from four yards out at 11:43.
🔊 Teague powers in for TD No. 2
However, the Tide chalked a touchdown pass in a flash to regain a 21-14 lead. Alabama drew up a misdirection play for Jones who found Harris open down sideline for a 26-yard score. The drive shaved 2:43 off the clock in five plays for 75 yards.
A targeting penalty on Alabama safety Jordan Battle set up the next Buckeye scoring chance. On 3rd and 11, Battle lowered the crown of his helmet on Ruckert inside the 10-yard line and was ejected from the game.
The OSU drive stalled as the Scarlet and Gray settled for a 23-yard field goal by Jake Seibert to cut the Tide lead to 21-17.Smith burned the Buckeye defense in two straight drives to stretch the Alabama advantage to 35-17.
A 44-yard combination from Jones set up a five-yard touchdown catch at 3:19. Smith scored again at 1:48 on a 42-yard touchdown catch from Jones. Smith registered 12 catches for 215 yards and three touchdowns in the first half.
The Buckeye defense made a stand and held Alabama to a 20-yard field goal to start the third. Alabama took 7:08 off the clock to extend its lead to 38-17.
The Ohio State offense ignited in the following drive to make it a 14-point deficit. Fields found Garrett Wilson from 20 yards out to cap a three-play, 75-yard drive in 1:02. Fields ran for 33 yards to set up the scoring chance.
Alabama put the game back to three scores when its offense went 75 yards in eight plays, ending in a 5-yard touchdown reception by Slade Bolden at 2:52.
Justin Fields drops this in the bucket for 6️⃣#NationalChampionship pic.twitter.com/fZ8jV0TL2c
— ESPN (@espn) January 12, 2021
A stop on fourth down by the Tide defensive line set up another Alabama scoring opportunity to start the fourth. Harris found the end zone again on a 1-yard run to open the game, 52-24.
