While watching the College Football Playoff National Championship Game, I began to wish for a dream match up between this year's Alabama squad and last year's LSU team. It's almost like when the Bengal Tigers finished 15-0 with the most potent offense I've ever seen, Alabama said, "Hold my beer." Led by quarterback Mac Jones, running back Najee Harris and Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith, the Crimson Tide rolled through 10 SEC opponents, as well as Florida in the SEC Championship Game, then Notre Dame and Ohio State in the playoffs.
The 52-24 win over the Buckeyes was as complete as any championship game victory I've ever seen. And that includes last year's LSU win over Clemson.
Jones showed everyone why he is the Davy O'Brien Award winner as the nation's best quarterback, while DeVonta more than proved why everyone was correct in voting him the Heisman winner. With weapons like those, it's no wonder Alabama is the new national champion.
With the win over Ohio State, 'Bama coach Nick Saban wins his 7th national title, with six of those coming at Alabama. That now ties him with the legendary Paul "Bear" Bryant for the most by any coach at one school. So, yes the 2020 Alabama team is better than the 2019 LSU Tigers, but boy would I love to see them play each other. While the Tide has the "three-headed monster" of Jones, Harris and Smith, LSU's biggest weapon was quarterback Joe Burrow. Neither team had a defense that would just throttle you like we've seen in the past, but they were more than good enough.
To dominate the entire COVID-ravaged season the way Alabama did is more than just impressive, it's amazing. In fact to finish an entire year as 'Bama did when you were at one point casting doubts about having football at all this season is more than amazing. Not only Alabama but every single team in the country should pat themselves on the back because you all survived. Through quarantines, cancellations and any other thing that the coronavirus dealt, you persevered.
Here's hoping that when next season rolls around, the COVID-19 pestilence will be a memory. The crowds can return to the stadiums, tailgating will return to the parking lots and players will no longer be subject to strict COVID-19 protocol. The budgets in all of the athletic departments will become more solvent and things will be as close to normal as we remember them. I sure would love to see that dream match up between the last two NCAA champions though.
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Randy Smith can be reached at rsmithsports@epbfi.com