Alabama put an end to Ohio State’s Cinderella story on Monday night. The Crimson Tide delivered a 52-24 blowout to the Buckeyes and captured the 2020 National Championship trophy in a spectacular fashion.
The Buckeyes, who made it to the championship game after upsetting Clemson in the semi-finals, surprisingly managed to keep up with Alabama’s powerful offense early in the game. Despite being the underdogs, Ohio State found a way to respond to Crimson Tide’s first two touchdowns and were in a good position after the first quarter.
But Alabama, led by offensive trio DeVonta Smith, Najee Harris, and Mac Jones, kept on piling up points and entered the second half with a comfortable 35-17 lead. At this point, the defense also showed up and gave up just one touchdown for the final two quarters to secure the sixth title for Crimson Tide in the past 12 years.
Wideout DeVonta Smith, fresh from winning the 2020 Heisman Trophy, was the best player on the field. Smith finished the contest with 12 catches for 215 yards and three touchdowns, winning the Offensive MVP award.
Quarterback Mac Jones also played a remarkable game, throwing for 464 yards and five TDs, while back Najee Harris added 79 rushing yards and two scores.
“Everybody is so together,” said Smith after the game. “People last year said the dynasty was over. We don’t stop. We just keep reloading.”
The win represents a big achievement for Alabama head coach Nick Saban, as he now has seven National Championship trophies as a head coach. This is the most by any coach in college football.
“To me, this team accomplished more than almost any team,” said Saban. “They won the SEC and went undefeated in the SEC and then they beat two great teams in the playoffs with no break. I think there’s going to be quite a bit to write about the legacy of this team.”
