National Championship Game Difference Makers: No. 3 Ohio State vs. No. 1 Alabama
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
Two college football titans are set to meet on Monday night at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami to settle the debate on the best team in the nation during the 2020 season. No. 3 Ohio State (7-0, 5-0 Big Ten) earned the right to advance to the National Championship Game after upending No. 2 Clemson 49-28 in the Sugar Bowl. No. 1 Alabama (12-0, 10-0 SEC) squashed ACC regular season champs Notre Dame 31-14 in the Rose Bowl to punch their ticket.
In the big games, it is hard to know which players to watch for and which ones had standout seasons. Both teams had numerous players collect postseason honors leading to exciting in-game matchups that will decide the title game. The following is a list of the top players on each squad for the National Championship Game.
No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes (7-0) vs. No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide (12-0)
Kickoff: 8:00 p.m. ET
Date: Monday, Jan. 11
TV: ESPN
Location: Hard Rock Stadium – Miami, Florida
Spread: Alabama -7.5
College Football Player of the Year – Alabama WR DeVonta Smith
Alabama senior receiver DeVonta Smith took home seemingly every individual postseason honor possible earning the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award, Biletnikoff Award, Paul Hornung Award, was a unanimous All-American selection, SEC Offensive Player of the Year, and AP College Football Player of the Year.
All-American Teams
Ohio State Postseason Honors
Offense
OG Wyatt Davis – first team All-American
Defense
CB Shaun Wade – first team All-American
DT Haskell Garrett – second team All-American
Alabama Postseason Honors
Offense
QB Mac Jones – first team All-American
RB Najee Harris – first team All-American
WR DeVonta Smtih – first team All-American
OT Alex Leatherwood – first team All-American
OC Landon Dickerson – first team All-American and Rimington Trophy Winner (out)
Defense
CB Patrick Surtain II – first team All-American
DT Christian Barmore – third team All-American
All-Conference Teams
Ohio State – All-Big Ten
QB Justin Fields – first team – Big Ten Offensive Player and Quarterback of the Year
RB Master Teague – second team
WR Chris Olave – first team
WR Garrett Wilson – first team
OC Josh Myers – first team
OG Wyatt Davis – first team – Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year
OG Harry Miller – third team
OT Thayer Munford – first team
OT Nicholas Petit-Frere – second team
Defense
DL Tommy Togiai – second team
DL Jonathon Cooper – third team
DL Zach Harrison – second team
DL Haskell Garrett – third team
LB Pete Werner – first team
LB Baron Browning – third team
DB Shaun Wade – first team – Big Ten DB of the Year
Special Teams
P Drue Chrisman – second team
Alabama – All-SEC
HC Nick Saban – SEC Coach of the Year
QB Mac Jones – first team and Scholar-Athlete of the Year
RB Najee Harris – first team
WR DeVonta Smith – first team and Offensive Player of the Year
OL Alex Leatherwood – first team and co-SEC Offensive Lineman of the Year
OL Deonte Brown – first team
OC Landon Dickerson – first team and co-SEC Offensive Lineman of the Year
Defense
DL Christian Barmore – first team
LB Dylan Moses – first team
LB Christopher Allen – second tem
DB Patrick Surtain II – first team and Defensive Player of the Year
DB Malachi Moore – second team
RS – Jaylen Waddle – second team
*The SEC only fielded two All-Conference teams, the Big Ten had three
Freshman All-SEC
OL Javion Cohen
LB Will Anderson Jr.
DB Malachi Moore
Photo credit: Sports Illustrated; No. 6 DeVonta Smith