Alabama defeats Ohio State in National Championship Game: 3 takeaways

Alabama had no issues putting away Ohio State to win yet another national championship.

The No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes 52-24 to win the sixth national championship of the Nick Saban era in Tuscaloosa. Alabama football fans can celebrate, while Ohio State football fans can drown their sorrows.

While it was close for the better part of the first half, Alabama took 35-17 lead into the third quarter and never looked back. There were moments where it looked like Ohio State may have been able to pull off another shocking College Football Playoff upset, but in the end, the Crimson Tide prevailed. There is a lot to digest from this game, but here are the three big takeaways.

Three takeaways from Alabama’s national championship victory over Ohio State

3. We will debate which team was better to the end of time: 2019 LSU or 2020 Alabama?

Last year gave us an utterly dominant 15-0 LSU Tigers team. Even in the midst of a global pandemic, the 2020 Crimson Tide was every bit as good. Alabama beat all 11 SEC teams it faced this year, as well as the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Ohio State. They defeated five teams who played in New Year’s Six bowl games. This was one of the greatest teams we have ever seen.

2. Ohio State even making it this far is a huge accomplishment for Ryan Day’s team.

For those who say Ohio State should not have even been here, Ryan Day’s Buckeyes team accomplished a ton in their shortened, eight-game season. They beat three high-quality teams in the Indiana Hoosiers, the Northwestern Wildcats and the Clemson Tigers to earn the right to play Alabama in Miami. While it ended up a laugher, it was at least respectable for a little while.

1. Alabama’s triple-headed offensive Hydra was a monster Ohio State could not contain.

You knew it was coming. Alabama’s offensive trio of quarterback Mac Jones, running back Najee Harris and Heisman Trophy-winning wide receiver DeVonta Smith proved too much for the Ohio State defense. Combined, they helped propel Steve Sarkisian‘s offense to 52 points in his final day as an Alabama employee. Together, they emerged as college football’s greatest triplets ever.

Overall, there was not much Ohio State could do to keep pace with Alabama in this one. The Crimson Tide had a distinct advantage in just about every area. When we think back on the craziest college football season of our lifetimes, we will remember that the champion it crowned was not only legitimate but arguably the greatest single-season team to ever play the sport.

Congratulations on defying all the odds en route to perfection, Alabama. You made us all proud!

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