The 2020 college football season has been a ride, but at long last, here we are at the College Football Playoff National Championship. To have made it all the way through the year, despite all of the interruptions and problems — both real and potential — is an accomplishment. And now, No. 1 Alabama and No. 3 Ohio State will take the field one final time to determine the national champion for one of the wildest seasons in the history of the sport.

CFP National Championship Live: https://nflplayoffsgame.xyz/cfpfinals/

National Championship Live: https://nflplayoffsgame.xyz/cfpfinals/

College Football Championship: How to LIVE STREAM FREE Ohio State vs. Alabama Monday (1-11-21)

While playing for championships is familiar territory for both programs, how they got here couldn’t have been more different. Alabama played close to a full schedule with the SEC opting for a conference-only slate. The Crimson Tide got in all 10 SEC games plus two postseason matchups. It wasn’t a completely smooth effort — coach Nick Saban tested positive for COVID-19 and missed the Iron Bowl — but all things considered it could have been worse.

Ohio State, on the other hand, almost didn’t have a season. The Big Ten initially eschewed a fall season for another crack at football in 2021 but eventually did an about-face with a shortened eight-game slate starting in late October. Because of various cancellations, Ohio State only played five games, but the Big Ten walked back its six-game minimum to allow the Buckeyes to play in the Big Ten Championship Game. Playing only six times, Ohio State was subject to intense scrutiny that it hadn’t played enough games to merit a playoff invite. However, the CFP Selection Committee included the Buckeyes anyway and the decision proved to be the right one when they beat up on Clemson 49-28 in the Sugar Bowl semifinal.

Which leads us to this. Saban will be looking for his sixth national championship at Alabama and seventh overall. Ohio State coach Ryan Day, in just his second year, is looking for his first. Which team will prevail? We break down Monday’s matchup below.

Storylines Alabama: It’s a conversation that’s come up more than once, but the 2020 Crimson Tide would be in the discussion as Saban’s best team ever with a win against the Buckeyes. It is already, at the very least, the most dangerous offense Alabama has ever put on a football field. DeVonta Smith became the first wide receiver in nearly 30 years to win the Heisman Trophy, quarterback Mac Jones was a finalist, and running back Najee Harris probably could have (should have) been, too. As it is now, the Tide are averaging 48.2 points. Last year’s national champion, LSU, averaged 48.4. With the shortened season, there’s no way Alabama passes the Tigers in total points scored, but the efficiency with which it’s slaughtered defenses this year is comparable.

Whereas Saban’s early Alabama teams were dominant on defense and slowly overpowered their opponents, the Bama teams of more recent years have relied on offense to overwhelm everyone in their way. College football has shifted towards wide open offenses, and Alabama has made that shift as well as any program in the country — if not better.

Ohio State: Of all the things to watch with Ohio State, none will be more important than the health of quarterback Justin Fields. The junior, a presumed top-three pick in next spring’s NFL Draft, took a hard hit to the midsection during the semifinal against Clemson. While Fields bounced back and threw for six touchdowns, he was also in noticeable pain. Day has said that Fields will play in the game, though the specifics of his injury weren’t disclosed. How Fields looks will be a huge X-factor. Is he fully functional? Is he clearly limited? Is he tepid with his decisions? Those will all be things to monitor.

Additionally, Ohio State has some COVID-19 concerns coming into the game. The school reportedly notified parties involved in the title game that it could be without an entire position group due to positive COVID-19 tests and contact tracing. Details are scarce and every indication is that the game will be played as scheduled. But it is something to keep an eye on as we get close to kickoff.
Viewing information

Game: 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship
Date: Monday, January 11 | Time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: Hard Rock Stadium — Miami Gardens, Florida
TV: ESPN | Live stream: fuboTV (Try for free)
Alternate viewing options

CFP Live — ESPN2
Skycast — ESPNU
Coaches film room — ESPNEWS
Alabama hometown radio — SEC Network
Ohio State hometown radio, Command Center, Datacenter, All 22 and more available on the ESPN App.

Alabama vs. Ohio State prediction, pick

Forget the number of games it played in the regular season, Ohio State has shown it belongs in the national championship. Now the question is whether it can pull the upset for the second straight game. The Buckeyes certainly have the talent, speed and toughness to keep pace with Alabama’s prolific offense. But there are a few questions they’ll have to answer as well. Is Fields healthy enough to lead his team to a win? Can the defense make enough stops? Will COVID-19 issues be a difference? Alabama has been the best team all year and there are too many uncertainties with Ohio State. It just feels like the Crimson Tide’s year. Pick: Ohio State +8 | Alabama 38, Ohio State 31

It’s No. 3 Ohio State vs. No. 1 Alabama for all the marbles in college football.

The national championship game between the two lone playoffs survivors will be played Monday (Jan. 11, 2021) at 8 p.m. ET.

AP Game Matchup

College Football Playoff national championship: No. 1 Alabama (12-0) vs. No. 3 Ohio State (7-0), Monday, 8 p.m. EST (ESPN) at Miami Gardens, Florida.

Line: Alabama by 8 1/2.

Series record: Alabama 3-1.

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

The Crimson Tide will play for their sixth national championship under coach Nick Saban, 13th overall in college football’s poll era (1936-present) and first since 2017. Alabama is 2-2 in CFP championship games. A sixth title at Alabama for Saban would match Paul “Bear” Bryant’s total with the Tide, but it would give him a record seven overall. He also won a BCS title at LSU in 2003.

BUY ALABAMA FAN GEAR HERE

For Ohio State, it would be its seventh national championship of the poll era and first since 2014, the inaugural season of the playoff.

KEY MATCHUP

Alabama’s interior defense, led by DT Christian Barmore, vs. Ohio State interior offensive line with OG Wyatt Davis and C Josh Myers. The Crimson Tide had a couple of bad games defending the run early in the season against Mississippi and Georgia, but they have gotten much better since as Barmore’s play as improved. Davis, an All-American, and Myers have been Ohio State’s best blockers, leading the way for RB Trey Sermons’ late-season surge (636 yards in the last three games).

WATCH THE GAME HERE

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Ohio State: QB Justin Fields. The junior is coming off the best game of his career and maybe the best game a quarterback has had this season. Fields threw six touchdowns and had only six incomplete passes in the Sugar Bowl against Clemson. He also took a nasty hit to the side that left him aching throughout the game. Fields’ mobility is big part of his game. If he’s limited, it takes away a key weapon for the Buckeyes.

Alabama: WR DeVonta Smith. The Heisman Trophy winner has been close to unstoppable in the second half of the season and had three more touchdowns on seven catches for 130 yards against Notre Dame in the Rose Bowl. Tide offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian gets the most out of Smith and keeps defenses guessing by lining him up wide, in the slot and often sending him in motion.

FACTS & FIGURES

Alabama receiver Jaylen Waddle, who broke his ankle on Oct. 24, returned to practice this week for the first time. Saban said Sunday that Waddle practiced to “some degree” and whether he plays will be a game-time decision. The coach also said Tide freshman defensive back Malachi Moore is questionable to play because of an undisclosed injury. He missed the semifinal against Notre Dame. … If Ohio State wins the national championship, it will have played the fewest games of any title winner since Minnesota in 1941 went 8-0. … Ohio State is 23-1 under second-year coach Ryan Day, including three victories in 2018 when he filled in as acting coach while Urban Meyer was suspended … Saban spent two seasons in the early 1980s as an assistant coach with Ohio State under Earle Bruce. … Alabama QB Mac Jones has completed 77% of his passes. The NCAA record for a single season is held by Colt McCoy, who completed 76.7% of his throws in 2008. … The Tide is the first team to have players with at least 20 rushing touchdowns (Najee Harris, 24) and receiving (Smith, 20).