CFP semis: Alabama draws Notre Dame, Clemson meets Ohio State
The College Football Playoff will feature No. 1 Alabama against No. 4 Notre Dame and No. 2 Clemson versus No. 3 Ohio State in the national semifinals.
Notre Dame, which got walloped by Clemson in the ACC championship game Saturday, edged out No. 5 Texas A&M for the final spot.
The Crimson Tide and Fighting Irish will battle in the Rose Bowl, though the game will take place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, instead of in Pasadena due to COVID-19 restrictions in California. The Tigers and Buckeyes will meet in New Orleans at the Sugar Bowl. Both contests are scheduled for Jan. 1, 2021.
Rose Bowl: Alabama vs. Notre Dame
No. 1 Alabama
Record: 11-0
Conference champions: Yes
Average winning margin: 30.3 points
Opponents combined record: 56-45 (.554)
Points per game: 49.7
Points allowed per game: 19.4
Best wins: 52-46 vs. Florida, 52-24 vs. Texas A&M, 41-24 vs. Georgia
No. 4 Notre Dame
Record: 10-1
Conference champions: No
Average winning margin: 20.6 points
Opponents combined record: 44-61 (.419)
Points per game: 35.1
Points allowed per game: 18.6
Best wins: 47-40 vs. Clemson, 31-17 vs. UNC
Alabama will make its sixth appearance in the CFP. The Crimson Tide missed the tournament last season, but they reached the national championship round in each of the previous four years.
This 2020 squad features one of the most prolific offenses in the nation, led by quarterback Mac Jones. The junior threw for 32 touchdowns and four interceptions in his first year as a full-time starter. The Crimson Tide boast plenty of elite NFL draft prospects, but running back Najee Harris and wide receiver Devonta Smith - both potential Heisman candidates - are the headliners.
Notre Dame is in the semifinals for the second time, with its prior appearance coming two seasons ago. The Fighting Irish haven't met Alabama since the 2012 BCS championship game, in which they got pummeled, 42-14.
Brian Kelly and Co. put themselves in danger of slipping out of the top four with their nightmarish showing in the ACC title game. They managed to survive, giving the ACC two representatives in the final four. The Fighting Irish are led by senior quarterback Ian Book, who passed for 15 touchdowns and two picks, and feature a dynamic rushing attack led by Kyren Williams.
Sugar Bowl: Clemson vs. Ohio State
No. 2 Clemson
Record: 10-1
Conference champions: Yes
Average winning margin: 30.7 points
Opponents combined record: 48-49 (.494)
Points per game: 44.9
Points allowed per game: 17.5
Best wins: 34-10 vs. Notre Dame, 42-17 vs. Miami
No. 3 Ohio State
Record: 6-0
Conference champions: Yes
Average winning margin: 21.5 points
Opponents combined record: 24-24 (.500)
Points per game: 42.5
Points allowed per game: 21
Best wins: 42-35 vs. Indiana, 22-10 vs. Northwestern
The second semifinal will feature superstar quarterbacks Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields - the projected No. 1 and No. 2 overall picks in the 2021 NFL Draft - for the second straight year. Lawrence's Tigers prevailed by a score of 29-23 over Fields' Buckeyes in last year's thriller.
The two schools also locked horns in the 2016 playoff, a game which Deshaun Watson and Clemson dominated, 31-0.
Clemson is in the dance for the sixth consecutive year. Dabo Swinney's program is 4-1 in the semifinals and has won two national championships over the last five seasons. The Tigers secured their spot in the final four by avenging their earlier loss to Notre Dame, which came when Lawrence was sidelined by COVID-19 protocols. Though the quarterback dominates headlines, Clemson also possesses the explosive Travis Etienne, who could be the first running back selected in the upcoming NFL draft.
Ohio State was a controversial inclusion in the top four because of its shell of a schedule. The Buckeyes saw action only six times because of the Big Ten's late return to play and COVID-19 issues that nixed three of their games.