Even in an era deprived of any semblance of parity -- and college football has had many of those -- an Alabama-Ohio State game feels huge.
While Bama and Clemson have played four times in the past six years, and Ohio State and Clemson have played in three of the past five, Bama and Ohio State have only ever met four times. Three of their battles were top-10 vs. top-10 matchups, and the other was No. 6 vs. No. 13.
In 2014, they played in the inaugural College Football Playoff semifinals; six years later, they play with a national title on the line (8 p.m. ET, Monday on ESPN/ESPN App). Here's everything you need to know about this titanic, and rare, matchup.
A nearly perfect offense
In 2020, Alabama offensive players have won college football awards for most outstanding overall player (DeVonta Smith), quarterback (Mac Jones), running back (Najee Harris), receiver (Smith again), lineman (Alex Leatherwood), center (Landon Dickerson, who will not play Monday) and overall offensive line. The same program that produced the three best defenses of the 21st century has now produced one of its best offenses.
