Live Updates: 2021 CFP National Championship Game, No. 1 Alabama Football vs No. 3 Ohio State

Updates, analysis and information live from Hard Rock Stadium in Miami as the unbeaten Crimson Tide takes on the Buckeyes for the national title

Author:
Joey Blackwell
Publish date:
Jan 11, 2021 5:46 PM EST

Live Updates Thread:

Fourth Quarter

(most recent update at the top)

• Final score: Alabama 52, Ohio State 24

• Final numbers for Mac Jones: 36-for-45, 464 yards, five touchdowns. Rating: 203.3

• Alabama has gone over 600 yards of total offense.

• Mac Jones just pulled. The party has started on the Alabama sideline.

Robinson carries the ball 13 yards for a first down at the UA 31.

Ohio State is forced to punt. Bolden with the fair catch at the UA 18.

Fields pass incomplete. Fourth down.

Fields pass complete to Teague for a 1-yard gain. Third and 15 at the OSU 48.

Fields sacked by Barmore for a loss of six. Second and 16 for the Buckeyes.

Alabama goes three-and-out and is forced to punt. The Buckeyes have the ball at the Alabama 47.

Smith has come back out of the locker room in street clothes with his right hand bandaged up.

Fields pass incomplete. Alabama takes over on downs. First and 10 Crimson Tide at its own 6-yard line.

Timeout Ohio State. It is the Buckeyes' second timeout of the half.

After three-straight incompletions, Ohio State is down to a fourth and goal on the UA 6.

Half the distance to the goal after a roughing the passer penalty. First and goal OSU at the Alabama 6.

Fields pass to Smith-Njigba for 15 yards and an OSU first down at the UA 39.

False start on Ohio State. Five-yard penalty.

Fields pass complete to Jaxson Smith-Njigba for five yards to the UA 49.

Fields pass complete to Olave for 10 yards and another OSU first down at its own 46.

Fields pass complete to Olave for 14 yards. First and 10 Buckeyes at their own 36.

Fields pass complete to Olave for a loss of three yards. Third and 13 on the 22.

Crowley carries the ball for no gain. Second down at the OSU 25.

OSU signals for a fair catch, will being at its own 25.

A fun fact for the Alabama faithful:

Drive summary: 6 plays, 43 yards, 2:47.

Harris rushes the final yard for the touchdown. Extra point by Reichard is good. Alabama 52, OSU 24 with 13:15 left to go in the game.

Harris tackled at the one. Second and goal.

Jones pass complete to Metchie for 10 yards to the OSU 4. First and goal Crimson Tide.

Third Quarter

End of the third quarter. Alabama 45, Ohio State 24.

Jones pass complete to Metchie for a 27-yard gain. First down Alabama at the OSU 16.

Teague is tackled for a loss of two, with Christian Barmore making the tackle. Turnover on downs. Alabama takes over at the OSU 43.

Teague is tackled just short of the line to gain. Fourth and one.

Fields pass to Olave complete for 11 yards and a first down at the OSU 36.

Ohio State will once again take over at its own 25 following a touchback.

Drive summary: 8 plays, 75 yards, 3:53.

Jones pass complete to Bolden for a five-yard touchdown. Extra point is up and good by Reichard. Alabama 45, Ohio State 24 with 2:52 remaining in the third quarter.

Robinson picks up five on a rush to the right sideline. Second and goal at the OSU five.

Robinson rushes up the middle for a 21-yard gain the the OSU 10-yard line. First and goal Crimson Tide.

Jones scrambles up the middle for 10 yards and a first down at the OSU 35.

Smith just went to the locker room after exiting the medical tent with a towel covering his right hand. He threw his helmet on the way to the locker room and is clearly frustrated.

Jones pass complete to Billingsley for 22 yards and a first down. First and 10 at the UA 45.

Jones pass complete to Waddle for six yards. Third and 2 on the UA 33.

Brian Robinson Jr. rushes the ball for two yards and his first carry of the day. Second and 8 at the UA 27.

Jahleel Billingley fields the kickoff for a fair catch. First and 10 Alabama at its own 25.

Drive summary: 3 plays, 75 yards, 1:02.

Fields pass complete to Wilson for 20 yards and a Buckeyes touchdown. Extra point is good. Alabama 38, Ohio State 24 with 6:45 to go in the third quarter.

Fields rushes through the right side for a 33-yard gain and a first down at the Alabama 20.

Fields pass complete to Wilson for 17 yards. First and 10 at the OSU 42.

Reichard's field goal sails through the end zone for a touchback. First and 10 Buckeyes at their own 25.

Drive summary: 16 plays, 75 yards, 7:08.

Reichard nails a 20-yard field goal. Alabama 38, Ohio State 17 with 7:47 left in the third quarter.

Jones pass complete to Harris, who is stopped at the OSU 2-yard line. Fourth down.

Jones pass to Metchie incomplete. Third and goal at the UA 5.

Harris is stopped at the line of scrimmage for no gain.

Harris rushes the ball through the left side for six yards and an Alabama first down. First and goal at the OSU 5-yard line.

Jones pass complete to Xavier Williams for a 12-yard gain. First down Alabama t the OSU 16.

Jones pass complete to Harris for 10 yards and a first down at the OSU 27.

Jones pass complete to Waddle for 13 yards and a first down.

Jones pass complete to Metchie for a nine-yard gain and a first down at the UA 49.

Harris rushes the ball 13 yards up the middle for a first down at the UA 36.

Smith fields the kick at the Alabama 17-yard line. Returns the ball six yards to the UA 23-yard line. First and 10.

Halftime Notes

DeVonta Smith's performance broke multiple national championship records. With 12 receptions, Smith now has the most receptions in a national championship game with 30 more minutes left to be played. His three touchdowns is also a CFP record for most touchdown receptions in a title game, and his 215 receiving yards is just seven yards short for most in national championship game history.

Mac Jones finished the first half throwing 25-for-30 with 342 yards and four touchdowns.

Harris leads the Crimson Tide with 45 rushing yards on 11 attempts.

So far, Alabama has totaled 389 yards, with 342 of those yards coming in the air. Meanwhile, Ohio State was held to 190 yards — 90 in the air, 100 on the ground.

Justin Fields for Ohio State has thrown 6-for-15 for 90 yards and no scores.

Second Quarter

Halftime: Alabama 35, Ohio State 17.

Ohio State calls for the fair catch at the OSU 18-yard line. First and 10 Buckeyes. Ohio State is called for running into the kicker, but Alabama declines the penalty with just 0:04 left to go.

After failing to convert on third down, Alabama is forced to punt with 0:10 left in the first half. Charlie Scott is set to punt.

False start called on Alabama. Five-yard penalty back to the UA 46. Second and eight.

Jones pass complete to Bolden for seven yards. Second and three at the OSU 49. Timeout Alabama with 0:20 remaining. The Crimson Tide is now out of timeouts.

Harris rushes for 10 yards and a first down at the UA 44.

After a six-yard gain on the play off of a pass from Jones to Metchie, the Crimson Tide takes its second timeout of the half. 0:33 remaining.

Ball is spot at the Alabama 28-yard line after the fair catch. First and 10 Crimson Tide.

Timeout Alabama. It has two timeouts remaining in the first half. 0:49 remaining.

Marcus Crowley rushes for two yards. Fourth and 12 on the Ohio State 23-yard line.

Buckeyes offensive lineman Wyatt Davis is down on the play and needs assistance to get back to the bench.

Fields rushes for three yards, followed by a 3-yard rush for Crowley. Third and 14 at the OSU 21.

A holding call on OSU's Matthew Jones moves the ball backwards. First and 20 at the OSU 15.

Reichard's kickoff fair-caught by the Buckeyes. First and 10 at the OSU 25.

Drive summary: 3 plays, 60 yards, 0:41.

Jones pass complete to Smith for a 42-yard touchdown. Reichard's extra point is good. Alabama 35, Ohio State 17 with 1:48 left to go in the first half.

Jones pass complete to Harris for a 14-yard gain and Crimson Tide first down.

Smith fields the punt at the 21-yard line, returns the ball 19 yards to the Alabama 40-yard line. First and 10.

After throwing two incompletions, Fields completes a pass to Marcus Crowley for four yards. Fourth down.

Ohio State will start at its own 25 after a fair catch at the 1-yard line.

Drive summary: 5 plays, 75 yards, 2:02.

Jones pass complete to Smith for a 5-yard touchdown. Reichard's kick is good. Alabama 28, Ohio State 11 with 3:19 remaining in the first half.

Pass interference called on Ohio State. Ball is placed at the spot of the foul, the 5-yard line. First and goal at the five.

Jones pass complete to Smith for 44 yards to the OSU 14, out of bounds. First and 10 at the OSU 4-yard line.

Harris rushes up the right side for six yards. Second and four at the Alabama 42.

Jones pass to Metchie for 16 yards to the Alabama 36. First and 10.

Leatherwood called for ineligible receiver. First and 15.

Smith calls for the fair catch. First and 10 Crimson Tide at its own 25-yard line.

Drive summary: 9 plays, 69 yards, 3:39.

Kick is up and it is good. Alabama 21, Ohio State 17 with 5:21 left to go in the first half.

Fields pass is incomplete. Fourth down. Ohio State sends in the field goal unit.

Teague is taken down after a gain of two yards. Third and goal at the Alabama 6.

Daniel Wright has taken Battle's spot in the secondary.

Battle is confirmed for targeting and is removed from the game. First down OSU at the Alabama 8-yard line.

Fields pass intended for Ruckert incomplete. Alabama defensive back Jordan Battle is called for targeting. The play is currently under review.

Timeout Ohio State. The Buckeyes have two timeouts remaining.

Teague is taken down in the backfield by Christopher Allen for a loss of four yards. Third and 11 at the UA 16.

Teague rushes for a gain of three to the UA 12. Second and seven.

Teague rushes 29 yards for another first down, pushed out of bounds by Jordan Battle. First and 10 at the UA 15.

Fields keeps the football, rushes to the left on the outside for a 28-yard gain to the Alabama 44. First and 10.

Teague carries the ball for a three-yard gain. Second and seven at the OSU 28.

Reichard's kickoff sails through the end zone for an Ohio State touchback. First and 10 Buckeyes at their own 25.

Drive summary: 5 plays, 75 yards, 2:43.

Jones pass complete to Harris for a 26-yard touchdown. Extra point by Reichard is good. Alabama 21, Ohio State 14 with exactly nine minutes left to go in the first half.

Jones keeps the football and scrambles up the middle for a gain of seven. Second and three at the OSU 26.

Harris carries the ball 13 yards for a first down at the OSU 33.

Jones pass complete to Smith for a gain of 13. First and 10 Alabama at the OSU 46.

Jones pass complete to Smith for 16 yards to the Alabama 41. First and 10 Crimson Tide.

Smith fields the kickoff for a fair catch inside the 10-yard line. First and 10 Alabama at its own 25.

Drive summary: 1 play, 19 yards, 0:11.

Teague carries the ball four yards for an OSU touchdown. Extra point is good. Alabama 14, Ohio State 14 with 11:43 remaining in the second quarter.

Pass interference places the ball at the Alabama 4-yard line.

Jones fumbles the football, recovered by Ohio State's Baron Browning. First and 10 Buckeyes at the UA 19.

Jones pass complete to Smith for 12 yards. First and 10 at the OSU Alabama 24.

After suffering an injury in the first quarter, Sermon is headed to a local Miami hospital.

Fields is smacked behind the line of scrimmage but is able to get the ball away. Fourth down. The Buckeyes are forced to punt. The punt is fair caught at the Alabama 12.

False start on Ohio State. Five-yard penalty puts them back at the 50-yard line. First and 15.

Fields pass complete to Wilson for 12 yards and a first down at the UA 45.

Fields is flushed from the pocket and is forced to throw the ball away. Third and seven.

Teague rushes for three yards. Second and seven at the OSU 42.

Fields pass complete to Williams for 14 yards and a first down at the OSU 39.

Kickoff by Reichard sails through the end zone for a touchback. First and 10 Ohio State at its own 25-yard line.

Drive summary: 11 plays, 75 yards, 4:58.

Jones pass complete to Smith for a 5-yard touchdown. Extra point by Reichard is good. Alabama 14, Ohio State 7.

First Quarter

End of the first quarter. Alabama 7, Ohio State 7.

Harris loses three yards. Third and goal at the OSU 5.

Harris rushes forward for two yards. Second and goal at the one.

Harris rushes right up the middle for three yards and a Crimson Tide first down. Goal to go at the Ohio State seven.

Jones pass complete to Metchie for two yards. Fourth and 1 at the OSU 10.

Harris rushes forward for seven yards. Third and 2 at the OSU 11.

Ohio State defensive tackle Jerron Cage is down for the Buckeyes. Injury timeout. Cage walks off the field under his own power.

Harris rushes one yard to the OSU 18. Second and 9.

Jones pass complete to Smith for three yards and an Alabama first down at the OSU 19.

Jones pass complete to Metchie for a gain of nine yards. Second and 1.

Jones pass complete to Smith for a 12-yard gain and a Crimson Tide first down at the OSU 31.

Jones pass complete to Smith, who is pushed out of bounds after a gain of 32 yards and a first down at the OSU 43.

Bolden fields the kickoff and goes down at the Alabama 25-yard line. First and 10 Crimson Tide.

Drive summary: 8 plays, 75 yards, 3:12.

Teague rushes around the end for an 8-yard touchdown. Extra point is good. Alabama, Ohio State 7.

Fields pass complete to Jeremy Ruckert for 36 yards. First and goal Ohio State at the UA 8.

Teague carries the ball for no gain. Second and 10 at the UA 44.

Fields pass complete to Chris Olave for a 20-yard gain and a Buckeyes first down at the Alabama 44.

Master Teague III rushes the ball two yards for an Ohio State first down at its own 36.

Reichard's kickoff sails into the end zone for a touchback. Ohio State will once again start its drive at its own 25-yard line.

Smith has now passed Vanderbilt's Jordan Matthews for most career receiving yards in the SEC.

Drive summary: 12 plays, 78 yards, 5:32.

Harris rushes one yard for the Crimson Tide touchdown. The extra-point attempt by Will Reichard is good. Alabama scores the first points of the game and takes a 7-0 lead.

After review, the ruling is confirmed. Fourth and goal at the OSU 1-yard line for Alabama.

The previous play is under further review. Bolden caught the ball with his body in the end zone while facing the goal line. On the reception attempt, his momentum carried him out of the end zone. The referees are now reviewing whether he had possession in the end zone, or he failed to secure the pass until he went down at the 1-yard line.

Jones pass complete to Slade Bolden for a four-yard gain. Fourth and goal at the OSU 1-yard line.

Jones pass complete to Jaylen Waddle, 15 yards and a first and goal at the OSU 7-yard line.

Harris tackled in the backfield for a loss of two yards. Third and three at the OSU 22.

Jones pass complete to Smith for nine yards.

Harris rushes to the right for 13 yards, first down Alabama at the OSU 29.

Sermon for Ohio State has left the sideline and has gone to the locker room with an undisclosed injury.

Jones pass complete to Najee Harris, who jukes and scampers 12 yards for another Alabama first down at the Ohio State 44.

Jones pass complete to Smith, who rounds the corner for a gain of 22. First and 10 Crimson Tide at its own 44.

Mac Jones pass intended for John Metchie incomplete. Second and 10.

Fields keeps the football for a one-yard gain, tripped up by Christopher Allen. Ohio State is forced to punt. DeVonta Smith fields the punt at the 21-yard line but is tackled immediately. First and 10 Crimson Tide at its own 22.

Brian Branch deflects the pass by Justin Fields, falls incomplete. Third and eight.

Trey Sermon the ball carrier for Ohio State, two-yard gain for the Buckeyes on the first play from scrimmage.

Will Reichard's kickoff is caught for a fair catch. Ohio State begins first and 10 from its own 25-yard line.

Weather at kickoff: 69 degrees, clear skies, southwest wind picking up at three miles per hour.

Pregame

Pretty awesome game day poster from the CFP:

The officiating crew for Monday night's game hails from the Big 12 conference: Brandon Cruse (referee), Marlow Fizgerald (umpire), George Gusman (head linesman), Derek Anderson (line judge), Scott Gaines (field judge), Fulton Carson (side judge), Donnie Aultman (back judge) and Dan Scanlan (center judge). Tuta Salaam will potentially serve as an alternate.

The Rose Bowl gave both Alabama and Ohio State a shoutout:

While there will be no honorary captains at this year's game due to the COVID-19 pandemic, each team has selected its captains for tonight's game. However, only one captain at a time will be allowed on the field for the coin toss.

Alabama captains: Landon Dickerson, center; Mac Jones, quarterback; Alex Leatherwood, offensive tackle; DeVonta Smith, wide receiver.

Ohio State captains: Tuf Borland, linebacker; Jonathon Cooper, defensive end; Wyatt Davis, offensive guard; Justin Fields, quarterback; Justin Hilliard, linebacker; Josh Myers, center; Shaun Wade, cornerback.

Ohio State has arrived at Hard Rock Stadium:

Here's a quick preview of Alabama's jerseys for Monday night:

Bama Central's Tyler Martin and John Garcia of SI All-American previewed tonight's game from the press box:

Nick Saban and Alabama football have arrived:

Ohio State starting place kicker Blake Haubiel will be out of tonight's game due to contracting COVID-19, according to a post on his personal Instagram account. Ohio State is expected to release its full injury/COVID-19 list at 6 p.m. CT.

Alabama coach Nick Saban said to ESPN that wide receiver Jaylen Waddle will be used in only a limited capacity if he is able to play. Saban also said that the decision to play is ultimately up to Waddle.

Ohio State's latest injury report shows 13 players will be absent from tonight's game, including starting kicker Blake Haubiel, starting defensive end Tyreke Smith and starting defensive tackle Tommy Togiai. The defensive line duo will be missed against Alabama's rushing attack.

Here is the full list of players out, according to Brendan Gulick of Buckeyes Now: CB Cam Brown, DL Jacolbe Cowan, K Dominic DiMaccio, DT Ty Hamilton, WR Jaylen Harris, K Blake Haubeil, OT Dawand Jones, LB Cade Kacherski, LB Mitchell Melton, DE Tyreke Smith, DT Tommy Togiai, SAF Kourt Williams and RB Miyan Williams.

Monday night's attendance: 14,926.

Lee Corso of ESPN's College GameDay picked Ohio State, sporting the Buckeyes' mascot Brutus' head.

Dickerson leads the Crimson Tide out onto the field, and we are now mere minutes away from the coin toss and the opening kickoff.

Dickerson shakes hands with Ohio State linebacker Tuf Borland for the opening coin toss. Alabama wins the toss and will defer to the second half.

Warmups:

Waddle is now out on the field stretching in the end zone with other wide receivers.

Along with Waddle, DeVonta Smith and the rest of the wide receivers have joined him out on the field for private warm-ups. Centers, snappers and quarterbacks along with select special teams players are also out on the field.

The Crimson Tide's quarterbacks and centers/long snappers have come out onto the field fully dressed out and ready to warm up.

In a surprise move, center Landon Dickerson is currently out on the field for warmups as the backup center, looking very well.

While Dickerson is still out on the field, his warmups are not as intense and is standing aside for most of them. If Dickerson sees any action at all, it is definitely not in a starting capacity.

Waddle seems to be slightly limping as he warms up on the field. He appears to not be 100-percent. It will be interesting to see how he is utilized in tonight's game.

Malachi Moore, who is coming off of an undisclosed injury, warmed up on the field quite a bit and looks ready to play.

Both teams have exited the field and we are minutes away from the team introductions.

Alabama Arrival Videos:

Game Preview:

The last time Alabama and Ohio State met was the first year of the College Football Playoff. The Crimson Tide was the top-seeded team, but no one knew what to expect in the Sugar Bowl.

The Buckeyes leaned on a stellar night from running back Ezekiel Elliott, who ripped through Alabama's defense for 230 rushing yards and two scores on 20 carries during a 42-35 victory.

Ohio State was also led by, third-string quarterback Cardale Jones, who was forced into action after injuries to J.T. Barrett and Braxton Miller.

Ohio State fell behind, 21-6, midway through the second quarter before going on a 28-0 run to take a 34-21 lead late in the third quarter.

The Buckeyes went on to face Oregon in the national title game, winning 42-20 to earn the program's first national championship since 2002.

Nick Saban later called it a learning experience, that Alabama hadn't prepared appropriately for the playoff and would adjust accordingly. The Crimson Tide won the 2015 and 2017 national titles.

Flip Card:

Game Information:

What: College Football Playoff National Championship Game

When: January 1, 2021, 7:15 p.m. CT

Where: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fla.

TV: ESPN (Chris Fowler play-by-play, Kirk Herbstreit analyst, and Maria Taylor reporter)

Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network (Play-By-Play: Eli Gold, Analyst: John Parker Wilson, Sideline: Rashad Johnson, Host: Chris Stewart).

Online: ESPN+

Alabama's last game: The top-ranked Crimson Tide defeated Notre Dame 31-14 in the Rose Bowl, which was relocated to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, due to coronavirus regulations in California. Mac Jones went 25-for-30 and threw for 297 yards with four touchdowns. DeVonta Smith, the Offensive Player of the Game, caught seven passes for 130 yards, tying the Rose Bowl record and setting the Alabama bowl mark with three receiving touchdowns. Najee Harris ran for 125 yards on just 15 attempts, while adding 30 receiving yards on four catches. Patrick Surtain II was named the Defensive Player of the Game. Alabama totaled 437 yards of offense, including 297 receiving and 140 rushing, while the defense held the Irish to just two rushing touchdowns.

Ohio State's last game: The No. 3 Buckeyes won a 49-28 shootout over No. 2 Clemson in the Sugar Bowl. Quarterback Justin Fields tied the school record for touchdown passes with six scores for 385 yards, while running back Trey Sermon also had another monster game, registering 252 total yards, including 191 on the ground. Chris Olave returned to action in elite fashion with six catches for 132 yards and two touchdowns. Fields is a transfer from Georgia, while Sermon previously played for Oklahoma.

Series: Alabama had a 3-1 lead.