Cotton Bowl 2021: 3 reasons to watch Alabama vs. Cincinnati

1. Can the Group of Five pull it off?

This is the biggest storyline of them all. The Cotton Bowl matchup is the ultimate David versus Goliath story. The Bearcats have finally broken through to the playoff and they drew a blue blood program in their first appearance. What will they do with their opportunity?

The College Football Playoff committee kept moving the goalposts in regards to qualification, especially when it came to Group of Five teams. The Bearcats went through back-to-back undefeated seasons and needed some chaos at the top in order to finally make the top four. Just cause it finally happened does not mean it is a validation of the system working.

Seems a little unfair to put a ton of pressure on the Bearcats. However, they will be judged on this game alone. If they lose by a wide margin, as expected, the narrative will be they did not belong with the big boys. If they keep it close but ultimately lose, it will be a moral victory at the least.

Bearcat fans do not want to think about moral victories but these are the expectations bestowed on them by media and fans, fair or unfair. I do not make the rules.

It is the Group of Five versus the mighty SEC. Alabama is a team aiming for its seventh championship in 13 years. Everyone loves a plucky underdog story. It should be well worth the watch.