No. 1 Alabama is back in the College Football Playoff National Championship for the fifth time in six seasons after thoroughly dominating No. 4 Notre Dame 31-14 in the 2021 Rose Bowl semifinal on Friday. The Crimson Tide led by as many as 24 points in the fourth quarter before the Fighting Irish scored inside the game’s final minute.
All season, the Tide have fielded one of the top offenses in the country with quarterback Mac Jones and wide receiver DeVonta Smith finishing the year as Heisman Trophy finalists and three more players (running back Najee Harris, tackle Alex Leatherwood and injured center Landon Dickerson) earning first-team AP All-America honors. That unit lived up to the hype even against one of the best defenses in the country, totaling 437 yards at 7.9 yards per play.
Jones was efficient in guiding the group completing 25 of 30 passes for 297 yards and four touchdowns, while Smith showed why the betting markets have him as the favorite to win the Heisman with his 130 yards and three touchdowns on seven receptions. Smith, named the Offensive MVP of the Rose Bowl, is a craftsman as a route runner and consistently won one-on-one battles against Notre Dame defenders. Even when the play did not require anything special down the field, Smith makes an impact with yards after the catch, like on this 26-yard touchdown off a screen pass.
Smith’s entire touchdown reel could entertain us for hours, but the play we’ll be talking about for years is Najee Harris’ hurdle on a 53-yard run in the first quarter. Harris finished the game with 125 yards on 15 carries.
The play is incredible from the elevation reached by the 230-pound back to the way he maintains stride when his feet return to the turf. But what’s even better is how the hurdle delivers on a request from soccer star Megan Rapinoe. Harris discussed his admiration of Rapinoe during a game week press conference and she responded with appreciation and a request for a hurdle. Less than 15 minutes in to the game, Harris delivered on the hurdle.
Notre Dame appeared to have a great answer to an early 14-0 hole with a 15-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that took up 8:03 of game clock and ended with a score on fourth-and-goal. The Irish were methodical and efficient, but it all seemed for naught when Alabama took the ball 84 yards the other way for a touchdown on a drive that lasted less than three minutes. In fact, the first three Alabama drives all ended in touchdowns and combined took less time off the clock than Notre Dame’s sole touchdown drive until the end of the fourth quarter.
The Irish also threatened to score once more on the game’s final play after recovering an onside kick, but the Tide held off a pass from QB Ian Book in the end zone. Book completed 27 of 39 passes for 229 yards with an interception but also compiled 55 yards rushing and a touchdown on the ground.
Though the post-game statistics did not monstrously favor Alabama, which only led Notre Dame 437-375 in total yardage, the Tide were in firm control throughout the game and never in danger of defeat.
They will play for the CFP National Championship for the fifth time in the seven-year history of the event, while the Irish fall to 0-7 in BCS or New Year’s Six bowl games since 1998 and have been outscored by an average of 23 points in those games.
Alabama will be looking to win its third national title in six seasons and sixth since 2009 under coach Nick Saban. The Tide will be playing in their eighth title game in 14 seasons under Saban.
CBS Sports was with you the entire way updating this story with the latest from the Rose Bowl. Keep it locked here for takeaways from the Alabama vs. Notre Dame game.
