Allstate Sugar Bowl: Everything You Need to Know Before Kickoff

No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide (12-1, 7-1 SEC) vs. No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes (12-1, 8-0 Big Ten)

When: Thursday, January 1st at 7:30 pm CT

Where: Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana

Weather (Outside): Rain with a high of 61 degrees and a low of 52.

TV: ESPN (Play-by-play: Brad Nessler, color analyst: Todd Blackledge, sideline reporter: Holly Rowe)

Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network (Play-by-play: Eli Gold, color analyst: Phil Savage, sideline reporter: Chris Stewart)

Series History: Alabama is 3-0 all-time against Ohio State.  Their last meeting was in the 1995 Citrus Bowl, when senior quarterback Jay Barker led the Tide to a 24-17 victory over the Buckeyes.  They had previously met in the beginning of the 1986 season and the 1978 Sugar Bowl.

Championship Week Results:

Alabama

The Crimson Tide claimed their 24th SEC Championship with a 42-13 win over the Missouri Tigers in the SEC title game.  The Tide never trailed in what was little more than an exhibition of Alabama's strengths.

Alabama quarterback Blake Sims had one of his best performances and was named Most Valuable Player for the game.  He tied an SEC Championship Game record with nine straight completions to open the game.  Sims completed 23 of 27 passes for 262 yards and two touchdowns.

Receiver Amari Cooper continued his stellar season by setting an SEC Championship Game record of 12 catches.  He added 83 yards receiving in a performance that helped him cement his status as a Heisman Trophy finalist, finishing third in the final voting and being invited to the ceremony in New York.

The Alabama running game was also in full force. Derrick Henry led the charge with 141 yards rushing and two touchdowns, doing most of his damage in the 4th quarter as the Tide drove down the clock to finish the Tigers off.  Receiver DeAndrew White also had a star turn during the game, catching three passes for 101 yards and a touchdown as he is becoming the Tide's second option that they have been searching for all season.

Ohio State

Despite being down to their third-string quarterback and coming in as an underdog, the Buckeyes shocked everyone when they handled the Wisconsin Badgers 59-0 in the Big Ten Championship Game.  The win was enough to spring Ohio State from 6th to 4th in the College Football Playoff poll, bypassing TCU and Baylor to be the last team included in the inaugural College Football Playoffs.

In his first start of the season, replacing an injured JT Barrett, Buckeye quarterback Cardale Jones threw for 257 yards and three touchdowns to earn MVP honors for the game.  Running back Ezekiel Elliott had 220 yards and two touchdowns on the ground and receiver Devin Smith had 137 yards and three touchdowns on four catches.

The Ohio State defense absolutely suffocated the Wisconsin offense.  Heisman Trophy finalist Melvin Gordon could only must 76 yards on the ground for the Badgers.  Wisconsin quarterback Joel Stave was intercepted three times, and the pass rush led by All-American Joey Bosa was relentless.  Bosa also returned a fumble for a score.

Keep an eye on:

Derrick Henry: TJ Yeldon will be limited in this game.  While other backs will get chances (Saban has even indicated fullback Jalston Fowler might play some tailback as well), the burden of the run game will likely fall in Derrick Henry's lap.  Henry has been a powerful 4th-quarter back for the Tide this season, but can he handle duties for a full 60 minutes?

DeAndrew White: Stopping Amari Cooper will be the focus for Ohio State's defense.  But DeAndrew White has proven recently he can be a dangerous weapon as well.  Most forget that it was White who caught game-winning scores against both Arkansas and LSU, and it was White, not Cooper, who had 100 yards in the SEC title game.  If the Buckeyes spend to much time on Cooper, White could have a breakout game.

Cardale Jones:  Jones shocked the college football world with his performance in the Big Ten title game.  Now the question is whether he can keep that momentum up against a team that now has film of him.  Jones is a big QB who can launch the ball down field. Ohio State won't deviate from their normal offense much, but look for them to take more long shots with Jones at the helm.

Joey Bosa: Alabama's offensive line passed a big test by containing Missouri's Shane Ray until he was ejected from the SEC title game.  But they have not seen a pass rusher like Joey Bosa.  Look for the Buckeyes to move Bosa around in order to create confusion on Bama's line.  Tackles Cam Robinson and Austin Shepherd will have to be aware of where Bosa is at all times.

Injuries:

Alabama

-RB TJ Yeldon will be limited with an ankle injury.

-LB Denzel Devall is listed as questionable as he is still recovering from an ankle injury as well.

-LB Reuben Foster, who has played on special teams throughout the year, is also listed as questionable as he recovers from a shoulder injury.

Ohio State

-Outside of the quarterbacks Braxton Miller and JT Barrett, Ohio State will have most notable players from the season available.  DE Noah Spence was kicked off the team earlier this year.