NEW ORLEANS —The biggest win of the Urban Meyer era was met with a fitting celebration full of confetti, fireworks, hugs and general jubilation that spilled from the field at the Superdome into the locker room and beyond.
In what was a heavyweight bout from start to finish, Ohio State upset top-ranked Alabama, 42-35, and shocked the college football world as part of the College Football Playoff semifinals. The Buckeyes, which almost dropped 500 yards on the Crimson Tide's defense, will play Oregon in the national title.
"We're back," Darron Lee said. "We're back. Those that thought we were gone, we're back. Be afraid, be very afraid."
Ezekiel Elliott Runs Wild
At interviews Sunday afternoon, the nametag that was supposed to identify Ezekiel Elliott was spelled wrong. It was emblematic of perhaps a lack of respect Ohio State’s running back has gotten while quietly putting together one of the best seasons in program history.
Against Alabama, Elliott charged through the Crimson Tide’s defense for 230 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries — including an 85-yard run late in the fourth quarter. He was named the Sugar Bowl’s Offensive Most Valuable Player.
“I was ready coming into the game. Barry Sanders said before the game there were two great running backs that were going to play tonight, and they both were for Bama,” he said. “I felt a little bit left out.”
And with all due respect for T.J. Yeldon and Derrick Henry, Elliott stole the show Thursday night.
“Wow,” Meyer said. “He’s probably the most underrated back in the country.”
The Legend of 12 Gauge Continues
Before the Sugar Bowl, during pregame warmups, Cardale Jones
In the two games that Jones has started in for Ohio State, he was won a Big Ten Championship and a Sugar Bowl. Not too bad for the once-apathetic kid who was nearly excommunicated by Meyer after various mishaps.
Thursday night was the latest chapter of Jones’ unlikely journey from third string to its starting and, really, last option at quarterback.
Against an Alabama defense that has simply struck the fear of God into teams over the last eight years, Jones passed for 243 yards and a touchdown and ran the ball 17 times for 43 yards — a final total that doesn’t reflect his
Darron Lee Dominates
In case you forgot, Darron Lee came to Ohio State as a skinny kid who played quarterback and safety at New Albany High School. After redshirting last season, Lee told his teammates, including fellow linebacker Joshua Perry, that he was going to start this year — a feat that seemed unlikely at the time.
A year later, Lee’s more than just a starter for the Buckeyes and a defense that’s dramatically better than it was in 2013: He’s a star.
After seven tackles, two sacks and three tackles-for-loss, Lee, who was awarded the Sugar Bowl’s Defensive Most Valuable Player, tried to deflect praise.
“I really think it's on the defense, man, I wouldn't take that … our defense we stepped up, and we righted the storm, righted the storm that came out,” Lee said. “I really appreciate it if you gave that to our entire defense, with all due respect.”
Lee, a redshirt freshman, has emerged as one of the team’s best players.
The Empire Falls
Winners of three of the last five national championships, losing is an especially unfamiliar feeling for Alabama, which entered its contest against Ohio State as eight-point favorites.
"We're very disappointed in the outcome of the game. But you have to congratulate Ohio State who played a really, really good game, and we probably didn't play our best game," head coach Nick Saban said.
"And I take responsibility for that. I think everybody in the organization, from the coaches, you know, right on down, has to take responsibility for what they did or didn't do to help prepare the team to be able to play their best game, which was certainly our goal coming into this game."
Saban, in particular, lamented the Crimson Tide's struggles on third down, where they converted on just 2-of-13 attempts.
As such, Alabama's offense, which had started to soar behind the combination of quarterback Blake Sims and star wide receiver Amari Cooper, stalled for much of the contest.
What Lies Ahead
At the postgame press conference, when Urban Meyer was told Oregon walloped Florida State by 39 points in the Rose Bowl, he nearly jumped out of his seat to go watch film of the Ducks, Ohio State's next and final opponent.
" I gotta go," he joked. "We gotta go get ready for that one."
Awaiting the Buckeyes is an offense that's as every bit prolific and explosive as their own. The Ducks, which are led by quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota, slammed the Seminoles en route to punching their ticket to Dallas.
If Thursday's College Football Playoff semifinal games were any indication, the National Championship could make for a classic.
