Alabama Football: 3 takeaways from impressive Rose Bowl win over Notre Dame

Alabama football returns back to the national title game thanks to a 31-14 win over Notre Dame. What did we learn about the Tide from this one?

Over the course of the past three seasons, the identity of Alabama football has changed. The normal Crimson and White you would see on CBS every Saturday featured a run-first offense and punishing defense, excelling with physicality.

Head Coach Nick Saban has had his strategy change and has produced ludicrous numbers. In particular on offense.

A Kyren Williams run was the only significant play on the first drive for the Fighting Irish. Alabama would force a punt.

Mac Jones would start with off with an excellent drive, hitting short to intermediate passes. As it has been a broken record, Jones would hit Devonta Smith on a screen and 26 yards later, Smith is in the end zone.

Early on, Alabama defensively would not let Book beat them throwing over six yards. Majority of the play calling was Williams runs and forced another punt.

It would be Najee Harris that would dazzle on the next possession. After a few Jones passes and a rush from Harris, he adds to his highlight tape. Harris is among the top running backs in College Football and a finalist for the Doak Walker Award. He showed why in this run.

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On the very next play, Jones would hit Jahlil Billingsley in the end zone. After four total possessions, Alabama was dominating.

The first mistake of the day for the Crimson Tide was a 27-yard gain off of a play action running back screen. Notre Dame would rotate the line to the right, while Book would hit Chris Tyree for the biggest play of the quarter for the Fighting Irish.

The Irish would start to run the football and effectively drive on Alabama. Book had just three passes in the first half and the duo of Williams and Tyree would carry the load. A 15-play, eight-minute drive from Notre Dame is what it took to get them in the end zone. A one-yard Williams run put the Irish on the board.

In what looked like could be a momentum shifting drive, that would not last. Alabama would only take two and a half minutes and six plays to go 84 yards. A Jones to Smith connection once again, making the contest a two score game again.

After an Alabama punt, Notre Dame’s run game would continue to impress. A quarterback draw from Book would set the Irish up with a good chance to score. A Book strike to Northwestern transfer Ben Skowronek would put the Irish in field goal range with eighteen seconds in the half.

A missed 51 yarder from Notre Dame would keep Alabama’s lead at half to 14, 21-7. What kept Notre Dame in the first half is exactly what Brian Kelly wants to do. Ball control, alongside a strong run game.

Book’s first vertical throw deep down field was intercepted by Christian Harris. Harris would undercut an underthrown football from Book.

After a Notre Dame punt, Jones would not hesitate to attack Notre Dame. Jones would hit John Metchie for a 30 yard catch and run. Smith would make it a third touchdown halfway through the third quarter and it looked like an insurmountable deficit to overcome.

One of the biggest risers from the Crimson Tide is Christian Barmore who, at the beginning of his career at Alabama, mostly focused on pressuring the quarterback. He made huge strides in 2020, and recorded the first sack of the game on Book.

It was Barmore’s seventh sack of the season. He received first-team All-SEC, alongside third-team All-American. Alabama would add a field goal to make a 31-7 contest.

Alabama handled Notre Dame 31-14 and was never in question. Jones finished 26-for-31, 303 yards and four touchdowns. Harris finished with 125 yards on 15 carries, averaging 8.3 yards per carry.

What did we learn from Alabama’s win?