Alabama knocks out Michigan State 38-0 in Cotton Bowl

They arrived from different hotels and different worlds. “Maybe we were a little too complacent, and I take responsibility for that”. Michigan State quarterback Connor Cook was under constant duress, and the running game was nonexistent.

They locked horns in a national semifinal Thursday night, and the team with the superior bloodlines obliterated the competition.

Top-ranked Clemson and No. 2 Alabama will face off in the desert for the national championship after dominating wins in the College Football Playoff semifinals Thursday.

“This is the first time in a while we’ve had this happen to us”, coach Mark Dantonio said.

Heisman Trophy victor Derrick Henry had two touchdowns and 75 yards rushing.

Alabama took a 10-0 lead into the half, with Coker setting up two scores with passes of 50 to Ridley and 41 yards to tight end O.J. Howard, respectively.

“Jake did a fantastic job”, Alabama coach Nick Saban said on the field after the game. A win against Clemson would give Alabama its fourth national title since the 2009 season; a Clemson title would be its first since 1981. The Crimson Tide are obsessed with championships. He’s played very, very well in huge games.

“This is a great team win”, Saban said.

As for the Spartans, it was hard to envision such a flop on the big stage.

Last January’s game was the Cotton Bowl’s first one of the New Year’s Six bowls, joining the Rose, Sugar, Orange, Peach and Fiesta.

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“I love the Cotton Bowl; I played in the Cotton Bowl”, Novakov said.

There was no flinching in a bruising first quarter that featured zero points and five punts.

All-America left tackle Jack Conklin came into the game saying the Spartans had the best offensive line in the nation and could handle Alabama’s defensive line.

Michigan State tried to out-Alabama Alabama and failed miserably. But that’s where the kindness ends.

Quarterback Deshaun Watson turned in another stellar all-around performance, beating Oklahoma with his arm and his legs. The freshman Ridley was brilliant, streaking by defenders on deep throws and outfighting them on jump balls. “They thought they could run the ball”. Henry plunged in to break the scoreless tie.

Connor Cook was rolling, having completed 5 of 6 passes in the drive. No points. No chance at a comeback, not the way Saban’s gang was playing and punishing Dantonio & Co. on a New Year’s Eve that was no party for Michigan State. The blowout loss shouldn’t affect his legacy, though. He also missed the Ohio State game in November with a late-season right shoulder injury.

Bama didn’t break any of Michigan State’s bones on Thursday, but it spent the game’s final 45 minutes breaking its spirit.

“Credit goes to Alabama”, said Cook after the game. The senior finished the night 19-39 for 210 yards. But his interception just before halftime was concerning.

As the Alabama defense has done time and time again this season to opponents, it took Michigan State’s machismo away by stuffing the run.