Ohio State football readying for opportunity of a lifetime

The Ohio State football team faces top-ranked and undefeated Alabama in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game on Monday, Jan. 11 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami with a chance to win their ninth national title in school history.

After taking down Clemson 49-28 in the Sugar Bowl, the Ohio State football team feels confident they can hang with Alabama.

“These guys wanted a chance to come back and play. Who would have imagined that the journey would come all the way to right here to play Clemson again,” Ryan Day said on the field following the win. “To come back and play the way we did, and now get a chance to go win the whole thing and have one of the best stories ever in college football history.”

If Ohio State’s historic season ends with a national title, it’ll likely be because Justin Fields continued rolling against Alabama. Fields will look to spread the ball out as he did in the win over Clemson, finding seven different receivers for 385 yards and six touchdowns. He’s looking to cap off a roller coaster of a season with one more victory.

“It’s definitely more meaningful because this is where we wanted to be before the season even started or when our season got canceled,” Fields explained on Thursday afternoon. “All of the stuff that this team has been through has been a big sacrifice for this moment. We’re just glad that we get an opportunity to play.”

During his media availability on Thursday, Fields also touched on his rib injury: “I really haven’t thought about how this injury is going to affect how I’m going to play. I’m just thinking about getting as much treatment as possible and trying to get my body right and 100 percent to be able to perform at a max level on Monday night.”

As for the defense, the Buckeyes will have their hands full with an excess of playmakers including Heisman winner DeVonta Smith, Mac Jones, Najee Harris, John Metchie, and Jahleel Billingsley. Not to mention that, according to 247 Sports, Jaylen Waddle has been upgraded to a game-day decision after being out with an ankle injury since October.

Ohio State was able to put pressure on Trevor Lawrence all night and doing the same against Nick Saban’s team will be key. Jonathan Cooper, Haskell Garrett, and Taron Vincent have to find ways to get Jones on the ground. Tuf Borland and Pete Werner, who each had four tackles against Clemson, will also look to make the Davey O’Brien Award winner uncomfortable.

Borland, a two-time captain, explained why he’s so grateful for this season and the chance to play Alabama on Monday night: “It’s been a full team effort. So much adversity but these guys just stayed with it. I’m so, so proud to be a part of this team. I’m so blessed and thankful for an opportunity to compete for the national championship.”