Ohio State Football: 3 Bold predictions for Buckeyes vs Alabama

Trey Sermon keeps rolling

Back in 2014, Ohio State football rode a hot running back to a national championship and Monday night, if the Buckeyes are able to win it all, Trey Sermon may just be the reason why.

Over the last two games against Northwestern and Clemson, he’s carried the ball 60 times for 524 yards. That’s 8.7 yards per attempt against two very good defenses and that’s the sort of effort he will need for Ohio State to beat Alabama.

The Buckeyes will need to control the clock and keeping the ball away from Mac Jones and Devonta Smith might be the best way to slow down the Crimson Tide.

At the very least, it seems as though Ohio State has found its formula — similar to that 2014 team with Zeke Elliott. He was dominant during that run and that allowed some deep play-action passes and that’s what Ohio State needs Monday.

Fields averaged 13.8 yards per attempt against Clemson and a big reason for that is forcing opponents to sell out to stop Sermon. Not only will it open up the passing game, his ability to get yards and work the clock might be the Buckeyes’ best defender against the Tide’s offense.