Social media imploded after talks were revealed of postponing the College Football Playoff Championship game because of Covid-19 issues at Ohio State University.
College Football Playoffs director Bill Hancock told ESPN the game between the Ohio State University Buckeyes and Alabama Crimson Tide remained on schedule for Monday, Jan. 11. Both athletic directors for the Buckeyes and Crimson Tide added the game is on schedule for Monday.
That is hearsay.
What is the fact is when the game is actually played, it will feature a Heisman Trophy winner.
For the first time in 29 years, a wide receiver has been named the most outstanding player in college football. Alabama’s DeVonta Smith received the coveted award after receiving 447 first-place votes, more than double second-place finisher Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence.
Smith will try to become the 17th Heisman Trophy winner to win a national championship and the first wide receiver to do get it done.
Smith is the third player from Alabama to win the Heisman.
“To all the young kids out there, that is not the biggest, not the strongest, just keep pushing,” Smith said after winning the award. “I’m not the biggest; I have been doubted a lot because of my size.”
Smith will leave Alabama arguably as the greatest player in a Crimson uniform. He is the first wide receiver in SEC history to win the award. He led the country in catches, receiving yards, all-purpose yards, and receiving touchdowns. Smith is the first wide receiver ever to win the AP Player of the Year.
The Crimson Tide again was the nation’s most dominant team, rarely challenged in going undefeated. Of the FBS teams that played more than four games, Alabama led the nation in points per game and has scored at least 52 points in four of its past five games. Two Crimson Tide players — quarterback Mac Jones and wide receiver Smith — were among the Heisman Trophy finalists.
“I think that’s just like part of this team, just everybody knowing that there’s going to be some games where you’re going to get all the touches and some games you’re not going to,” Smith shared with media the next day. “I think that’s just everybody just buying into the process and just believing the coaches and everything that they do. They’re going to put everybody in a great situation to do the right thing.”
Alabama’s defense has slipped a few times, giving up 48 points to Mississippi in Oct. 10 and 46 to Florida in Saturday’s SEC championship game, but the Steve Sarkisian-designed offense has bailed it out each time.
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