When the Crimson Tide struggled offensively during the regular season, it was often because of inconsistencies in the performance of its offensive line. Against Auburn, multiple breakdowns in pass protection allowed rushers to have easy avenues to bring down quarterback Bryce Young (he was sacked seven times).
In the conference title game, though, Young had the time and protection he needed to find receivers downfield and to make plays with his feet. And against the Bearcats in the Cotton Bowl, the Crimson Tide’s offensive line made way for running back Brian Robinson Jr. to rush for a career high as Alabama ran past Cincinnati to advance to the title game.
The championship matchup — if it is not derailed — will be the 72nd meeting between the teams. Alabama has won the last seven, and it will be the SEC’s seventh straight season sending at least one team to the national championship game.
College football, though certainly disrupted in numerous ways by the pandemic, made it through most of this season with few interruptions before bowl games started. But as the highly contagious Omicron variant led to a nationwide surge in cases, leagues shuffled their schedules, several bowl games were canceled and the College Football Playoff changed its health protocols in hopes of preserving the most important games.
Late Friday night, with seconds remaining before their win over Michigan was finalized, the Bulldogs looked ready to dump a cooler of cold liquid on the winning coach’s head.
Instead of taking part in the playful celebratory gesture, Smart could be seen speaking emphatically to his players, waving off their attempts at an early shower.
After one of their best seasons in years, a familiar foe awaits. The job isn’t finished yet.