Alabama Football: Top 5 storylines for CFP National Championship

Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports /
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Top 5 storylines from Alabama football vs. Ohio State

3. This will be a CFP rematch

Alabama football hasn’t played Ohio State since the first College Football Playoff. In that game, the Buckeyes shocked the Tide on their way to a title. Alabama has been wanting revenge ever since, and now is their shot.

Almost every functioning part of that game is long gone. Urban Meyer retired. Obviously, all players on both sides have been gone for a long time. Alabama has replaced almost its entire coaching staff, so this will only feel like revenge for Nick Saban. Still, it will be a leading narrative as we approach the CFP National Championship.

In that game, backup quarterback Cardale Jones defied the odds and carried his team to victory. Ezekiel Elliot had one of the best performances against an Alabama defense in that game, and the Tide could not stop Jones on third downs. It was a close game, but Ohio State prevailed in the Sugar Bowl.

Things are a lot different now. The Alabama offense is more explosive. The only piece of this that might repeat itself is a dominant performance by a running back. Trey Sermon torched the Clemson defense, and he will be looking to do the same to the Tide.

As you watch the title game, watch out for plenty of highlights from the 2014 season.