UNDATED (AP) — Alabama will make another trip to the CFP championship game, thanks in part to a pair of Heisman Trophy finalists. The Crimson Tide’s opponent will be Ohio State, which made a big statement with a three-touchdown win over Clemson.
Mac Jones connected with DeVonta Smith for three touchdowns as the top-ranked Crimson Tide hammered No. 4 Notre Dame, 31-14 in the relocated Rose Bowl near Dallas. Jones was 25 of 30 for 297 yards and four scores in a near-perfect performance. Smith racked up 130 yards on seven receptions to help the Tide remain unbeaten.
Najee Harris led Alabama’s ground game with 125 yards on 15 carries.
Irish quarterback Ian Book was 27 of 39 for 229 yards, no TDs, and one interception. Book also ran for the game’s final touchdown.
At the Sugar Bowl, Justin Fields threw six touchdown passes, and No. 3 Ohio State avenged last season’s painful semifinal loss to Clemson with a 49-28 victory over the Tigers.
Fields outplayed Heisman finalist Travor Lawrence, going 22 for 28 for 385 yards. He set a Sugar Bowl record for TD passes while playing more than half the game after taking a vicious shot the side.
Trey Sermon highlighted the OSU ground game with 193 yards and one touchdown on 31 carries.
Lawrence was 33 for 48 for 400 yards and accounted for three touchdowns in what is expected to be the junior’s final college game. He engineered two scoring drives that gave the Tigers a 14-7 lead before Ohio State took over.
The Buckeyes head to the CFP title game for the first time since the inaugural playoff to face No. 1 Alabama on Jan. 11 at Hard Rock Stadium in South Florida. Ohio State beat the Crimson Tide in the semifinals on the way to the 2014 national championship.
In other New Year’s bowl games:
— Jack Podlesny kicked a 53-yard field goal with three seconds remaining to cap 11th-ranked Georgia’s fourth-quarter comeback in a 24-21 triumph over No. 6 Cincinnati in the Peach Bowl. Zamir White’s 9-yard TD run trimmed Cincinnati’s lead to 21-16 before Podlesny hit two field goals to help the Bulldogs end the Bearcats’ bid for a perfect season. JT Daniels finished with 392 yards passing for Georgia, which tied a school record with eight sacks. Desmond Ridder completed 24 of 37 passes for 206 yards and two scores.
— Peyton Ramsey threw for three touchdowns and ran for a score to lead 14th-ranked Northwestern to its fourth straight bowl win, 35-19 against Auburn in the Citrus Bowl. Ramsey totaled 291 yards passing and 50 yards rushing as the 7-2 Wildcats bounced back from an ugly loss to Ohio State on Dec. 19 in the Big 10 championship game. Bo Nix threw for 292 yards for the 6-5 Tigers but was often frustrated by Northwestern’s defense, which came in ranked fifth in the nation with 15.5 points allowed per game.
