National Championship Game Statistical Preview: No. 3 Ohio State vs. No. 1 Alabama

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG

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The stakes do not get any higher come Monday night in Miami when No. 3 Ohio State (7-0, 5-0 Big Ten) heads to Hard Rock Stadium to face No. 1 Alabama (12-0, 10-0 SEC). The pairing of two of college football’s elite programs is just the fifth meeting on the field with the Crimson Tide holding a 3-1 all-time advantage. But the Buckeyes won the last battle in the 2014 College Football Playoff Semifinal taking a 42-35 win in the Superdome on the way to capturing their last national championship.

The 2020 season was an unconventional one for the Buckeyes in more ways than one. The team missed three schedule games, Maryland, Illinois, and Michigan, due to Big Ten COVID-19 protocols receiving an exemption from the conference commissioner to play in the title game off a 5-0 record. Ohio State was challenged by then- No. 14 Northwestern for three quarters, but the Buckeyes pulled away in the fourth for a 22-10 win. The Big Ten Championship Game win catapulted the squad into the College Football Playoff earning a No. 3 seed and a showdown against No. 2 Clemson. OSU came out hot on the way to a 49-28 win over the Tigers.

Alabama made a return to the SEC Championship Game in 2020 after blistering their 10-conference game schedule never facing any true adversity. The Tide met their toughest matchup of the season in their conference title game against a No. 7 ranked Florida squad that refused to quit offensively. The 52-46 shootout raised some eyebrows ahead of Bama’s invitation to the playoff. After securing the top seed, the Crimson Tide roughed up ACC regular season champ Notre Dame 31-14 in the semifinal for the national championship game berth.

No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes (7-0) vs. No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide (12-0)

Kickoff: 8:00 p.m. ET

Date: Monday, Jan. 11

TV: ESPN

Location: Hard Rock Stadium – Miami, Florida

Spread: Alabama -7.5

National Championship Game Statistical Breakdown

Ohio State Strength of Schedule: No. 10

Alabama Strength of Schedule: No. 5

Offensive Breakdown

OSU Points Per Game: 43.4

UA Points Per Game: 48.17

 

OSU Rushing Yards Per Game: 272.6

UA Rushing Yards Per Game: 185.7

 

OSU Passing Yards Per Game: 272.3

UA Passing Yards Per Game: 349.33

 

OSU Total Offense: 544.9

UA Total Offense: 535.0

 

OSU Third Down Conversion Percentage: 46 of 92 – 50 percent

UA Third Down Conversion Percentage: 80 of 135 – 59.26 percent

 

OSU Red Zone Offense: 30 of 39 – 77 percent – 25 touchdowns

UA Red Zone Offense: 57 of 62 – 92 percent – 48 touchdowns

 

Ohio State Key Offensive Players

QB Justin Fields: 141-192-6 for 1,906 yards 21 TDs

RB Trey Sermon: 115 carries for 868 yards, 4 TDs

WR Chris Olave: 42 rec. for 660 yards, 7 TDs

WR Garrett Wilson: 40 rec. for 673 yards, 5 TDs

Alabama Key Offensive Players

QB Mac Jones: 275-357-4 for 4,036 yards with 36 TDs

RB Najee Harris: 229 carries for 1,387 yards, 24 TDs; 36 rec. for 346 yards, 3 TDs

WR DeVonta Smith: 105 rec. for 1,641 yards, 20 TDs

WR John Metchie: 47 rec. for 835 yards, 6 TDs

 

Defensive Breakdown

OSU Total Defense: 370.3

UA Total Defense: 353.2

 

OSU Points Allowed Per Game: 22.0

UA Points Allowed Per Game: 19.0

 

OSU Passing Yards Allowed Per Game: 281.1

UA Passing Yards Allowed Per Game: 242.92

 

OSU Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game: 89.1

UA Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game: 110.3

 

OSU Defensive Third Down Conversion: 33 of 94 – 35 percent

UA Defensive Third Down Conversion: 77 of 186 – 41.4 percent

 

OSU Red Zone Defense: 19 of 23 – 83 percent – 15 touchdowns

UA Red Zone Defense: 25 of 34 – 74 percent – 17 touchdowns

Ohio State Key Defensive Players

LB Pete Werner: 46 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1 sack, and 2 FF

LB Tuf Borland: 34 tackles, 3.5 TFL, and 1.5 sacks

CB Shaun Wade: 30 tackles, 2 INTs, and 3 PBU

DE Jonathan Cooper: 22 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 3.5 sacks, 1 PBU, and 2 QB hurries

Alabama Key Defensive Players

LB Dylan Moses: 74 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 1 INT, and 3 PBU

LB Christian Harris: 73 tackles, 7 TFL, 4.5 sacks, 1 INT, and 6 QB hurries

DB Malachi Moore: 44 tackles, 3 INTs, 6 PBU, 1 FF, and 1 FR

LB Will Anderson Jr.: 49 tackles, 10.5 TFL, 7 sacks, and 8 QB hurries

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