Page ?? | Daily Mountain Eagle | THURS., JAN. 28, 2021 NATIONAL CHAMPS A COMMEMORATIVE EDITION CELEBRATING ALABAMA’S 2020 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP Page 2 | Daily Mountain Eagle | THURS., JAN. 28, 2021 A recap of a magical season By JEFFREY WINBORNE Daily Mountain Eagle GAME 1 #2 ALABAMA @ MISSOURI After an off season that saw most of the sport not even know if there would be a college football season, the all- SEC football season finally got started with #2 Alabama on the road at Mis- souri. The Crimson Tide offense set the bar high behind first-year starter Mac Jones and preseason All-SEC receiver Jaylen Waddle. With the duo producing 134 yards and two touchdowns through the air, along with Najee Harris run- ning for three more touchdowns, the Tigers simply could not keep up with Alabama winning handily, 38-19. GAME 2 #13 TEXAS A&M @ #2 ALABAMA Mac Jones’ coming out party came at the expense of a much-hyped Aggie squad led by senior quarterback Kellen Mond. Jones completed 74 percent of his passes for 435 yards and four touchdowns, including two to John Metchie III (78 yards and 63 yards) and an 87-yard pass to Jaylen Wad- dle to put Alabama up 42-17 in the third quarter. Alabama’s defense gave Daily Mountain Eagle - Lee Walls up 318 yards and three touchdowns Alabama players run onto the field amidst pyrotechnics at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. The Crimson Tide fin- though the air as Mond gave reason for ished the 2020 season undefeated and won the SEC championship and defeated Notre Dame to advance to the concern in Pete Golding’s defense. Still, Alabama put the Aggies away to the national championship game to face Ohio State. tune of 52-24. being tied at 42 in the fourth quarter, 57 yards against ‘Bama. For Crimson bined for a 170 yards and five scores on Alabama reeled off 21 points to survive Tide fans, it was a breath of fresh air the ground, three from Najee Harris GAME 3 the Rebels’ offensive onslaught, 63-48. after what Ole Miss did to Alabama’s alone. Jaylen Waddle’s injury left a #2 ALABAMA @ OLE MISS defense a week prior. gaping hole in Alabama’s offense, but If Texas A&M gave Alabama fans a GAME 4 in Tuscaloosa, it’s “next man up.” Who reason for concern, then Lane Kif- #3 GEORGIA @ #2 ALABAMA GAME 5 knew that that next man would be the fin’s Ole Miss offense sent them into When the third-ranked Bulldogs #2 ALABAMA @ TENNESSEE Tide’s third Heisman Trophy winner? full panic mode about the defense. came knocking in Tuscaloosa, the While Alabama’s dominance of The Rebels put up an astounding 647 world expected another instant classic Tennessee continued for the 14th GAME 6 yards, with quarterback Matt Corral between these old foes. With Georgia straight time in a dominating, 48-17 MISSISSIPPI STATE accounting for 365 in the air. Two run- leading 24-20 at halftime, it seemed performance, that wasn’t what every- @ #2 ALABAMA ning backs, Snoop Conner and Jerrion that was exactly what was in store. one was talking about when the final Any doubts that fans had about Ala- Ealy, each had over 100 yards rushing However, a 90-yard touchdown pass whistle blew. Jaylen Waddle, Alabama’s bama’s defense after the Ole Miss game and two touchdowns apiece. Luckily from Mac Jones to Jaylen Waddle early leading receiver and explosive return were erased after the Tide dismantled for Alabama fans, the Crimson Tide’s in the third quarter marked the begin- specialist, went down on the opening and shut out Mike Leach’s Air Raid Of- offense was better. Devonta Smith and ning of what would be 21 unanswered kickoff to what would later being diag- fense, holding Mississippi State to just Jaylen Waddle combined for 284 of Mac points for the Tide, winning 41-24. nosed as a combination of a high-ankle 200 yards of total offense. Meanwhile, Jones’ 417 passing yards while Najee Georgia’s sophomore quarterback Stet- sprain and fracture in his right ankle. the other preseason All-SEC receiv- Harris absolutely went off. The Tide son Bennett threw three interceptions Mac Jones, despite the loss of Waddle, er did his part in letting the country running back ran for over 200 yards in the game, one more than the num- threw for 387 yards. It was the run- know that Jaylen Waddle’s injury and amassed five touchdowns, four of ber of touchdowns thrown. Georgia’s ning game, however, that proved the which came in the second half. After leading rusher, Zamir White, only had difference for ‘Bama as the team com- See RECAP, PAGE 3 Page 2 | Daily Mountain Eagle | THURS., JAN. 28, 2021 THURS., JAN. 28, 2021 | Daily Mountain Eagle | Page 3 Recap From Page 2 would not hamper Alabama’s national - DeVonta Smith), passing yards, first championship hopes. DeVonta Smith downs (33 - Alabama), most points shattered his previous season-high scored in a half (35 - Alabama) and receiving record, catching 11 passes most points scored by a losing team (46 for 203 yards and four touchdowns - Florida). against the Bulldogs. With a 41-0 victo- While they never led throughout the ry in Bryan-Denny Stadium, Alabama game, two-loss Florida gave Alabama moved to 6-0. their biggest test of the season since the shootout with Ole Miss in Week GAME 7 3. After being down 28-10 in the first, KENTUCKY @ #1 ALABAMA Florida brought to within a touchdown Following Clemson’s loss to Notre when Nay’Quan Wright scored on a Dame, the Crimson Tide welcomed three-yard run at the end of the third Kentucky into Tuscaloosa as the num- quarter. The fourth quarter was a ber one team in college football for the shootout, with Najee Harris, DeVonta first time all season. To the tune of 509 Smith and kicker Will Reichard all offensive yards and 63 points, Alabama scoring for Alabama. Florida got the certainly lived up to that ranking ball back trailing 52-46 with seven against the overmatched Wildcats. seconds remaining in the game. Kyle DeVonta Smith added 144 yards and Trask was hoping for a miracle long 2 touchdowns to his Heisman resume pass. He was met, instead, by ‘Bama’s while Kentucky managed just three Christian Harris for a sack to end the points, a 33-yard field goal in the first game. Top-ranked Alabama was once quarter. again headed for the College Football Playoff. GAME 8 #22 AUBURN @ #1 ALABAMA GAME 12 Any other year it is safe to say Daily Mountain Eagle - Lee Walls #4 NOTRE DAME vs #1 ALABAMA “anything can happen in the Iron (ROSE BOWL) Bowl.” But 2020 was not any other year Alabama quarterback Mac Jones (10) runs onto the field before the nation- Notre Dame coaches, players and and Auburn had not faced an offense al championship game in Miami. fans promised that this wasn’t the quite like this. Alabama quarterback finalist as the Tide receiver hauled and forced four turnovers. With a 52-3 same Irish team that was squashed Mac Jones completed 18 passes to in eight catches for 231 yards and win in Fayetteville, Alabama finished by Alabama in the 2013 BCS Champi- five receivers for 302 yards and five three touchdowns. After having lost a the first-ever all-SEC season 10-0 and onship Game. Technically, one could touchdowns, including two to DeVonta Heisman Trophy winner of their own ranked #1 in the country. say they were right. Notre Dame only Smith, two to John Metchie III and one and a plethora of NFL talent to the lost by 17 points in 2020 instead of the to Jahleel Billingsley. In what would Draft, the 2020 Tigers only managed GAME 11 28 in 2013. The Tide jumped out to a be Gus Malzahn’s final Iron Bowl as 352 yards of offense to the Tide’s 650. #1 ALABAMA vs #7 FLORIDA 14-point first quarter lead after a 26- the Tigers’ head coach, his offense just In the end, Alabama left Tiger Sta- (SEC CHAMPIONSHIP) yard touchdown reception by DeVonta couldn’t overcome Alabama’s defense dium, revenge fulfilled, with a 55-17 The SEC Championship Game Smith and a 12-yard completion by to keep up. Bo Nix, while passing for victory and a date in the SEC Champi- featured Heisman Trophy candidates Jahleel Billingsley. Smith would also 227 yards, threw two interceptions. onship Game. on both teams, with Mac Jones and catch touchdown passes for 34 yards Auburn’s only touchdown of the nights DeVonta Smith of Alabama and Kyle and seven yards to end his night with came after a rare Alabama fumble that GAME 10 Trask of Florida, all looking to cement seven catches for 130 yards. Mac Jones led to Nix capping a 96-yard drive with #1 ALABAMA @ ARKANSAS their place in the race. In the end, the was nearly perfect, completing 25- a short scoring run. Alabama walked 2020 proved to be a promising year two teams combined for 1,067 yards of of-30 passes for 297 yards and four off with a 42-13 win over Auburn, im- for Arkansas fans who have been hun- total offense and 98 points, both second touchdowns. If one were to look for proving to 8-0 on the season. gry for wins in recent years. However, all-time in SEC Championship Game a downside, it would be be a lack of against Alabama, the Hogs were heav- history.