Alabama Football: Buckeyes were out-schemed, out-played and out-classed

Alabama Football: The Crimson Tide proved again it is better than all the rest in a game, a season and during a long 12-season haul.

Monday night a great team won a game. It was a big game, as are all National Championships. That it was so one-sided, kept it from being a great game. The Alabama Crimson Tide dominated the Ohio State Buckeyes, but Alabama Football National Champions have beaten championship game opponents worse.

In 2012, playing for the 2011 National Championship, the game was over by halftime, even though the Crimson Tide led only 9-0. If they had played eight quarters in New Orleans that night, LSU would have never scored.

The Notre Dame game in 2013, for the 2012 National Championship, was less close than the season before. That game was over four seconds into the second quarter, with Alabama Football holding a 21-0 lead.

Shorthanded Ohio State put up a tougher fight Monday night. There is no doubt the Buckeyes were the second-best team in the bizarre 2020 college football season. The gap between the Buckeyes and the Tide was too great. Even if every key Ohio State player had been available and healthy, the gap between the teams would have been significant. Plus, the Crimson Tide played at less than full strength with players out, playing hobbled, ejected and new injuries during the game.

Had DeVonta Smith been able to play the entire game, there would have been more catches, more receiving yards and more touchdowns. The Buckeyes were helpless against him. Take away Smitty’s dislocated finger and he and Mac Jones would have set more records on top of all their others.

Simply put Ohio State was out-schemed, out-played and out-classed.

Alabama football fans should be as happy as Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide head coach was very happy. His joy and appreciation for his team turned into a few tears during the post-game celebration.

Speaking after the game, Nick said,

"I’m just so proud of our team. To go undefeated, win 11 SEC games, win the National Championship and beat two fine teams in Notre Dame and Ohio State, I can’t tell you how proud I am of that."

He also paid his team the supreme compliment when he called them the “ultimate” team.

Saban will not celebrate long. Tuesday will be another workday. Alabama football fans will want to know what’s next, answered in great detail. Whatever Nick Saban says is next should be just fine with us.

https://twitter.com/espn/status/1348858908777959425

Anyone, Crimson Tide fan or foe who thinks Nick Sabana is finished, makes a mistake. Never bet against a winner. Paul Bryant said that, by the way.