The Alabama Crimson Tide (ranked #1 in both the AP poll and the College Football Playoff rankings) came out with a strong first half in Monday night’s CFP National Championship, taking a 35-17 lead into the halftime break against the Ohio State Buckeyes (#3 in both of those rankings). Both sides scored a first-quarter touchdown, but then the Crimson Tide dominated the second quarter, putting up 28 points to Ohio State’s 10. And Alabama receiver and Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith was key to that, posting 215 receiving yards and three touchdowns in the first half. Here are those touchdowns:
Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith finds the end zone to give Alabama the lead. pic.twitter.com/AOKuoAM4so
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) January 12, 2021
Look at all of the pre-snap movement from DeVonta Smith, before he burns the Ohio State defense in space. He's unstoppable.
11 receptions, 173 yards (15.7 AVG), 2 touchdowns in the first half for the Heisman winner. pic.twitter.com/JQL8T9GSY9
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) January 12, 2021
DeVonta Smith… what more can you say?
12 receptions, 215 yards (17.9 AVG), 3 touchdowns.
IT'S STILL THE FIRST HALF. pic.twitter.com/afQeQBKkYH
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) January 12, 2021
Smith finished the first half with those 215 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 12 catches, which put him in excellent company historically against several other full games:
DeVonta Smith has 12 catches (the most ever in a CFP final), 215 receiving yards (second most ever) and 3 receiving TD (most ever)
…at halftime.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) January 12, 2021
Meanwhile, Alabama quarterback Mac Jones completed 25 of 30 first-half passes (83.3 percent) for 342 yards and four touchdowns, and running back Najee Harris carried 11 times for 45 yards and a touchdown. For Ohio State, quarterback Justin Fields was six for 15 (40 percent) in the first half for 90 yards, while running back Master Teague had 12 carries for 62 yards and a touchdown.
The Buckeyes are without some key players, including on the defensive line, and they’re also missing running back Trey Sermon, who suffered a collarbone injury on his first carry and was taken to hospital. We’ll see how they do in the second half.
[Photo by Kim Klement/USA Today Sports]
About Andrew Bucholtz
Andrew Bucholtz has been covering sports media for Awful Announcing since 2012. He is also a staff writer for The Comeback. His previous work includes time at Yahoo! Sports Canada and Black Press.