The Alabama Crimson Tide and Cincinnati Bearcats have gotten underway in the College Football Playoff semifinals at the Cotton Bowl. Things started out exactly how many feared they might, with the juggernaut Tide rolling down the field to score on the undefeated G5 opponent.
Bama looked downright scary in their efficiency, running an 11-play drive down the field for a touchdown, courtesy of quarterback Bryce Young and wide receiver Slade Bolden connecting. It was Young’s 44th touchdown pass of the season, which is the new single-season passing touchdown record for the Crimson Tide.
Slade Bolden with a Touchdown 😁🔥https://t.co/Bf7qYYlgC0
— Alabama DieHards (@DiehardsAlabama) December 31, 2021
The game was still young but plenty of college football fans have seen this story before. A solid opponent says “We Want Bama” and then there’s a moment when you realize you’re getting what you asked for from Nick Saban’s squad. That realization seemed to hit a specific Cincy fan in the stands just as the camera captured the darkness moving across his face and his soul leaving his body.
— no context college football (@nocontextcfb) December 31, 2021
The shirtless fan, sporting a Bearcat claw on his chest, could do nothing at that moment but accept his fate and know that everything is meaningless in opposition to the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Naturally, the moment did not go unnoticed by college football fans and the image quickly went viral across Twitter with plenty of commentaries to go with it.
Mood pic.twitter.com/6i8iIvi1nv
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) December 31, 2021
Cincinnati fans when they realize Alabama isn’t the same as Eastern Carolina University #CFBPlayoff pic.twitter.com/LDCiROg49u
— the Sports ON Tap Brothers (@thesportsontap) December 31, 2021
the 70/30 ratio from chin to nose to peak hair on the dude in the middle is spellbinding https://t.co/L5FDs6AajS
— ¡BUM CHILLUPS AKA SPENCER HALL! (@edsbs) December 31, 2021
When it's not Skyline time https://t.co/QlwUkyeNRT
— Grubb (@JeffGrubb) December 31, 2021
I am glad to be with you, Samwise Gamgee, here at the College Football Playoff. https://t.co/ucd4Vz5tER
— Joe Dolan (@FG_Dolan) December 31, 2021
Shots of the Cincy student section are concerning. This group ain't CFP ready. Way too sober. https://t.co/caYV6dpaSl
— Eddie Radosevich (@Eddie_Rado) December 31, 2021
For what it’s worth, Cincy has gotten on the board and only trailed 10-3 midway through the second quarter. And things are boding better for them than they did for Michigan State in 2015, who didn’t even score against Bama in the semis.
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.