ARLINGTON Texas, –— Top-ranked Alabama will have the chance to win its sixth national championship under Nick Saban after the Crimson Tide defeated No. 4 Notre Dame 31-14 in the Rose Bowl Game.
Alabama’s Heisman Trophy finalists Mac Jones and DeVonta Smith were put their skills on full display and left no doubt why the two are finalists for the award. Jones threw for 297 yards and 4 touchdowns, three of those touchdowns going to Smith who caught eight passes for 130 yards.
‘I don’t think there’s anything quite like the Rose Bowl, the tradition, the setting, the mountains. It’s just a phenomenal experience,” coach Nick Saban said. ”Wish our players had gotten that opportunity.”
The Fighting Irish are now 0-7 in BCS & NY6 bowl games and head coach Chip Kelly is once again left scratching his head.
“I don’t know how I need to — I really don’t want to continue to go down this path,” Kelly said when asked what the next step Notre Dame has to take to get to the national title game.
“We’re going to keep getting here, OK? And we’re going to keep banging at it and you guys watched the game, didn’t you? They made plays on the perimeter. They made some dynamic plays. They had the college football player of the year who made some dynamic plays. We battled. We were right there.
Alabama will now face Ohio State in the Jan. 11 championship game after the Buckeyes destroyed Clemson in the other CFP semifinal at the Sugar Bowl on Friday night.
ALABAMA
N. Harris 15 carries 125 yards
NOTRE DAME
I. Book Passing- 27/39 229 yards / Rushing- 16 carries 55 yards and one touchdown.
