CLEVELAND, OH (WOIO) – The showdown the Ohio State fans wanted for a long time finally came to fruition. The 2015 Sugar Bowl featured the top ranked Alabama Crimson Tide and the No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes.
Buckeyes threw out their third starting quarterback of the year, Cardale Jones. Jones made his first college start in the Big Ten Championship game against Wisconsin where they won 59-0. The overwhelming victory was just what Ohio State needed to get the Buckeyes the final spot in the first ever College Football Playoffs.
In the first quarter the Buckeyes defense forced an Alabama three-and-out. On the following possession the Buckeyes offense would start off fast, after multiple first downs, Ezekiel Elliott would bust a 54-yard run on the Crimson Tide defense to get the Buckeyes inside the 10-yard line. They would not find the endzone however, Ohio State would have to settle for a Nuernberger 22-yard field goal to give Ohio State a 3-0 lead.
After another Alabama three-and-out the Buckeyes would get the ball, but would not have the same success. Elliott fumbled the ball in Alabama territory and the Crimson Tide would recover it and score two plays later on a Derrick Henry 25-yard rushing touchdown to give Alabama a 7-3 lead.
The Buckeye offense would keep rolling, Jones would find Devin Smith for a 40-yard catch that would set them up at the 1-yard line, after a mishandled snap by Jones the Buckeyes would fail to score a touchdown, would have to settle for a 21-yard Nuernberger field goal. Alabama leads 7-6 with 5:17 left in the first quarter.
The final points in the first quarter would come from a Sims touchdown pass to Amari Cooper for 25-yards. Alabama jumps to a 14-6 lead.
In the second quarter Cardale Jones would be intercepted by Cyrus Jones and returned to Ohio State’s 15-yard line. The Buckeyes would forced Alabama to fourth down, but the Crimson Tide would convert on fourth and one play later, T.J. Yeldon would rush for a 2-yard touchdown to give Alabama a 21-6 lead.
The Buckeyes score a touchdown with a 12-play, 5:12 long drive that was capped off by a 3-yard touchdown run by Elliott. Jones found Jalin Marshall for two 26-yard pass plays to lead to the score. Ohio State trails Alabama 21-13.
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