NEW ORLEANS — Ezekiel Elliott sprinted down the field, nothing between him and the end zone. Cardale Jones was right on his heels, eager to join the celebration.
They can keep right on running.
Next stop, the national championship game.
Elliott shredded the fearsome Alabama defense and Jones again proved to be a worthy replacement at quarterback, leading Ohio State to a stunning 42-35 victory over the top-ranked Crimson Tide in a College Football Playoff semifinal at the Sugar Bowl on Thursday night.
The Buckeyes (13-1) advanced to face Oregon in the Jan. 12 title game in Arlington, Texas.
Without the new playoff, they never would have had a chance.
“Obviously, we’re really thankful for the playoff system,” said Elliott, knowing the CFP’s fourth seed would have been shut out in the old BCS system that only rewarded the two highest-ranked teams. “They gave us a chance to go out there and show that we’re one of the better teams in the nation and we deserve to be in the national championship.”
No doubt about that.
Ohio State rallied from an early 21-6 deficit, scoring 28 consecutive points against the Crimson Tide (12-2). Then, with the Buckeyes clinging to a 34-28 lead, Elliott came up with the play that essentially sealed the victory with 3½ minutes left.
Right after Jones twisted for a 1-yard gain on third down to keep the possession alive, Elliott took a handoff around the left side, broke one feeble swipe at his ankles and kept right on running for an electrifying 85-yard touchdown.
Jones wasn’t too far behind, jumping on his teammate’s back after they got to the end zone.
Oregon (13-1) advanced to the title game with a 59-20 rout of defending national champion Florida State in the other semifinal at the Rose Bowl. The Ducks’ performance was impressive, indeed, but Ohio State coach Urban Meyer likes his team’s chances after taking down a Tide team seeking its fourth national title in six years.
“We’re good enough,” Meyer said. “That was a classic.”
