Cotton Bowl Preview: No. 1 Alabama vs No. 4 Cincinnati
The Alabama Crimson Tide will take on the Cincinnati Bearcats in the Cotton Bowl Classic as part of the first round of the College Football Playoffs. Alabama comes into the game as the No. 1 ranked team with the Bearcats being ranked No. 4.
Cincinnati makes history as the first Group of 5 team to make the playoffs following its 35-20 American Athletic Conference Championship win over the Houston Cougars. They were the one team going into championship week that did not control its destiny, but Oklahoma State’s loss to Baylor gave way for the Bearcats to make it in.
The Bearcats come in as the only undefeated FCS team left at 13-0 but were disrespected by the committee for most of the season. They have two top 25 wins over now ranked No. 5 Notre Dame and No. 20 Houston.
Cincinnati is led on offense by quarterback Desmond Ridder and running back Jerome Ford. Ridder, who at one point during the season was considered a Heisman candidate, threw for 3,190 yards and 30 touchdowns with just 8 interceptions. Ford ran for 1,242 yards and 19 touchdowns, including a huge 187 yard and 2 touchdown performance against Houston.
On defense, the Bearcats are led by cornerbacks Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner and Coby Bryant. Gardner is widely regarded as the top press coverage defensive back in college football. Bryant is also not someone you want to be throwing the ball at. Together they have helped keep Cincinnati's opponents out of the endzone.
As for its opponent, a 17-point victory in the SEC Championship Game over Georgia, the No. 1 ranked team at that time, propelled the Crimson Tide to the No.1 ranking in the nation. Alabama is 11-1 with their lone loss coming to the hands of Texas A&M.
Alabama’s offense is led by Heisman finalist Bryce Young. The offense struggled just a few weeks ago in the Iron Bowl but completely flipped the script against Georgia, posting 41 points. Young threw for 421 yards and 3 touchdowns, while also rushing for an additional 40 yards and a touchdown on just three carries.
Jameson Williams will become the top target for the Alabama offense following the loss of John Metchie III. Metchie has been the top target for Bryce Young with 96 receptions. However, Williams leads the receiving corps with 1445 yards and 15 touchdowns.
On the defensive side of the ball, Alabama is led by linebacker Will Anderson. Anderson leads the nation with 15.5 sacks. In the Cotton Bowl, Anderson should be playing with a little extra motivation as he was left out of the Heisman finalists in favor of Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson.
The two teams lined up against each other on December 31 inside of AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. When they line up, expect the Alabama offense to have itself a day against the Cincinnati defense.
If Cincinnati wants a chance to compete, they will have to keep their offense going against the strong Alabama defense. Defense tends to win games and it is going to come down to which one of these defenses can make more big plays.
Nick Saban and Alabama have experience in these College Football Playoffs. Luke Fickell and the Bearcats have a tough challenge ahead in their first playoff appearance.
Justin Ciavolella is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email jtc5751@psu.edu.
