Chris O’Meara / Associated Press
While the reality for the faithful Monday took place in Ohio State, a simple glance at the score explained the story.
Al Jones’ eighth-man Mac Jones had 342 yards and four touchdowns, and Najee Harris, who ran back, was 111 yards and two touchdowns. Broad receiver DeVonta Smith–the Heisman Trophy winner—Had caught 12 passes for 215 yards and three counts.
While the Buckeyes certainly thought of their missed opportunities, the Crimson Tide did not have time to celebrate. They first had to go to the locker room.
After all, there were still 30 minutes to play in the national championship game.
One last night, the Alabama offense was unstoppable.
The country’s most effective attack yielded 7.5 yards per game in a 52-24 victory. The predominant performance suited a wonderful year for this unit–an incredible collection of players and coaches who are now largely set for new destinations.
Smith, a senior, is a potential top-10 NFL draft pick. Despite not missing the second half with a finger injury, he ended the 2020 season as the leader of the country in receptions, gardens and downfall.
Jones and Harris are likely to join Smith as first picks. Jones finished 36-out-45 with 464 yards and five touchdowns to no interception, while Harris rushed 79 yards, caught seven passes for 79 yards and scored three scores.
Lynne Sladky / Associated Press
For a good match, Jaylen Waddle returned from what had previously ended as an ankle injury for the season, playing a limited role and catching three passes for 34 yards. He is also a likely first player.
The NCAA does not count 2020 as a year that is eligible due to the coronavirus pandemic, so all four must account for the concept. However, they will leave with senior linebackers Alex Leatherwood, Deonte Brown and Landon Dickerson.
Coordinator Steve Sarkisian is also gone.
The former boss in Washington and USC, he accepts an offer to become the head coach in Texas on January 2nd. On his final day with Alabama, Sark calls a perfect game that showcases his players’ extraordinary skills.
Some of it was simple. On two 4-and-1 plays in the red zone, Jones gives Harris the ball. No call deserves much praise, but after a weekend full of NFL teams playing scared, it was refreshing that the Tide were aggressive early on.
Sarkisian stuck to the basics and relied on run-pass options, screens, play-action roll-out and zone-beaters. The state of Ohio has played its Cover 1-Cover 3 identity, so much of that was expected.
But Alabama also used some nasty schemes to determine its ratings.
In the first quarter, Sarkisian Smith stepped up and pulled two defenders across the field. However, Smith turned from direction and started from Josh Proctor–who also had to recognize a cross from the other side.
This fueled chaos for the Buckeyes and created an effortless touch. Pretty good combination, no?
Later in the first half, Sarkisian again made a simple call for Alabama-but-tax-for-Ohio State.
Smith started moving, changed direction twice and jumped to the right corner of the end zone. In doing so, he beat cornerback Sevyn Banks even before the blow. Jones hit Smith with claws, and he walked in.
The play was planned for a situation with a short point, but, more importantly, it gave Smith an ideal match. The latter point is the most important for any caller, and Sark constantly arranged similar scenarios throughout the game.
Just look at Smith’s third touch.
Sarkisian knew Ohio State’s dependence on Cover 3 meant he could get Smith on a lineout. Tuf Borland found himself in the deceptive match. It’s not his fault that he followed the defensive call, but Borland had absolutely no chance.
Sark emphasizes the Buckeyes with jet motions, fake bubble screens, fake bubbles to wheel trails and on and on. He mentions a brilliant game in his final in Alabama.
But when Smith and Sarkisian landed the headline deservedly, Jones and Harris also thrived. One play illustrates the impact they had.
On the Tide’s third possession, Ohio State linebacker Baron Browning forced a whisper and recovered after a perfect blitz. On the next ride, Browning performed another flash. But this time, Jones saw the pressure and gave a pass to Harris, who missed two defenders and scored his second touchdown.
No matter what the state of Ohio did, Sarkisian had an answer. However, his solutions worked around his playmakers.
And the Buckeyes could not stop Smith, Jones or Harris.
They are, of course, in good company. All three players finished in the top five in Heisman votes. No defense has kept Alabama less than six yards per game, and the Crimson Tide averaged 48.5 points per game en route to a 13-0 record and their sixth national championship in 12 years.
Excluding a handful of beautiful decisions, the offense next season will differ significantly. Alabama is not very talented, consider 5-star talent Bryce Young replacing Jones and John Metchie III will lead the receiving corps. Yet it will place a revised unit led by new coordinator Bill O’Brien.
It’s coming, but it’s waiting.
For one last night, the Crimson Tide was overwhelming. Smith, Jones, Harris, Sarkisian and Co will leave the Capstone as the offense that cannot be stopped.
Follow Bleacher Report football writer David Kenyon on Twitter @ Kenyon19_BR.