Tag: cfp semifinals

LOOK: Alabama fans storm Twitter in preparation for Cotton Bowl

LOOK: Alabama fans storm Twitter in preparation for Cotton Bowl

Gameday has officially arrived. The semifinal matchup between No. 1 Alabama and No. 4 Cincinnati is just a few hours away and Tide fans from all around the country are eager for kickoff.

Alabama fans are notorious for taking to Twitter on gameday to express their excitement for that day’s opponent. The playoff semifinal contest only inflames Tide fans’ intensity.

If you are not fired up for kickoff already, these series of tweets are sure to get you ready and may even give you a good laugh.

Stay tuned to Roll Tide Wire for all the latest on the Crimson Tide!

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Stacey Blackwood on Twitter @Blackwood89.

WATCH: Bryce Young explains his tranquility, why he respects winning

WATCH: Bryce Young joins Gene Wojciechowsk of ESPN’s College GameDay to explain his calmness and how he learned to respect winning.

Tranquil is just one of the many words you could use to describe Alabama Heisman-winning quarterback Bryce Young. In his first season as the starter for the Tide, the moment never looked too big or too bright for the superb sophomore.

His calming presence helped guide Alabama back to another playoff appearance when most thought the 2021 season would be a rebuilding year for Nick Saban and Tide.

Young had the opportunity to sit down with Gene Wojciechowski of ESPN’s College GameDay to reflect on the 2021 season and how he learned to respect winning and the secret behind his ability to remain still during a flood of chaos.

Stay tuned to Roll Tide Wire for all the latest on the Crimson Tide!

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Stacey Blackwood on Twitter @Blackwood89.

The improved play of Jordan Battle and DeMarcco Hellams has transformed the ‘Bama defense

The improved play of Jordan Battle and DeMarcco Hellams has transformed the ‘Bama defense

Even though I believe the saying “defense wins championships” is now dated in the modern era of college football, I still think playing quality defense is important.

Early in the 2021 season, the Alabama defense struggled at times. Whether it was the abysmal rush defense against the Florida Gators or the busted coverages that led to a loss against Texas A&M, the defense was not performing at a championship level.

Late in the season, you started to see a much-improved defense step on the field. A lot of that had to do with the play of Alabama safeties, Jordan Battle and DeMarcco Hellams.

Both Battle and Hellams are currently playing the best football of their Alabama careers.

In the SEC Championship Game against the Georgia Bulldogs, both Battle and Hellams played really solid with each recording an interception off of Stetson Bennett. Hellams’ interception came in the red zone halting a Bulldogs drive, while Battle turned his into a pick-six.

In the last three contests, Battle and Hellams have combined for 44 tackles and two interceptions.

If Battle and Hellams can continue their good play, the Alabama defense should be in good shape for another run at a championship.

Stay tuned to Roll Tide Wire for all the latest on the Crimson Tide!

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Stacey Blackwood on Twitter @Blackwood89.

Alabama vs. Cincinnati: Game day information, how to watch, stream, listen

Alabama vs. Cincinnati: Game day information, how to watch, stream, listen

We have finally made it to the eve of the playoff semifinal matchup between No. 1 Alabama and No. 4 Cincinnati.

Since the inception of the playoff in 2014, Alabama has made more appearances (7) than any other program in the country. The Tide also has an incredible 8-3 record and has won a total of three championships during the playoff era.

This is not the case for the underdog Bearcats. Friday will be the first time that Cincinnati has ever competed in the playoff.

Will the Tide’s playoff experience payoff with another victory? I guess we’ll find out tomorrow.

Here is how you can catch all of the action!

Kickoff, How to Watch/Stream/Listen

Kickoff: 2:30 p.m. CT, Friday, Dec. 31

Location: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas

Television: ESPN (Sean McDonough, Todd Blackledge, Molly McGrath, Laura Rutledge)

Live Stream: fuboTV (try it free)

Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network/ TuneIn app

Stay tuned to Roll Tide Wire for all the latest on the Crimson Tide!

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Stacey Blackwood on Twitter @Blackwood89.

Stream college football games from the SEC, Big 12, The American, and more on ESPN+

5 impact players for the Tide in semifinal matchup with Cincinnati

5 impact players for the Tide in semifinal matchup with Cincinnati

The stage is set and the anticipation is mounting as Alabama and Cincinnati prepare to clash on New Year’s Eve in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic.

Like most contests of this magnitude, a handful of plays made by a handful of players will go a long way in determining the outcome of the game.

Today we are going to look at five impact players for Alabama that I believe Crimson Tide fans need to be on the lookout for come Friday afternoon.

Let’s roll!

WATCH: Goodyear Cotton Bowl releases Alabama hype video

WATCH: Goodyear Cotton Bowl releases Alabama hype video

On Friday, Alabama and Cincinnati will fight for a chance to reach the national championship. Cincinnati comes in at No. 4 in the CFP rankings with an undefeated record while Alabama sits atop the rankings with just one blemish on its resume.

Alabama is no stranger to the playoffs. Since its inception in the 2014 season, Nick Saban and the Tide have appeared in each of the playoffs, with the exception of the 2019 season.

Before its matchup with Cincinnati, the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic released a highlight video of Alabama’s historic 2020 season.

Check out the tweet below to see the hype video!

Alabama and Cincinnati will hit the field on Friday, Dec. 31, at 2:30 p.m. CT on ESPN.

Stay tuned to Roll Tide Wire for all the latest on the Crimson Tide!

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Stacey Blackwood on Twitter @Blackwood89.

5 Bearcats to watch in the Alabama vs. Cincinnati Cotton Bowl matchup

5 Bearcats that Tide fans should be watching during the Alabama vs. Cincinnati Cotton Bowl matchup

The stage is set and the anticipation is mounting as Alabama and Cincinnati prepare to clash on New Year’s Eve in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic.

Like most contests of this magnitude, a handful of plays made by a handful of players will go a long way in determining the outcome of the game.

Today we are going to highlight a few players for the Cincinnati Bearcats that I believe Crimson Tide fans will need to be on the lookout for come Friday afternoon.

Let’s do this!

Getting to know Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell

Let’s get to know Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell a little more!

It is Christmas Eve and that means we are now just seven days away from Alabama’s semifinal matchup with the Cincinnati Bearcats in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic.

As we have been nearing the contest we have slowly taken a closer look at the Bearcats. Today we are going to dig a little into their leader in head coach Luke Fickell.

Let’s get started, shall we?

First …playing career…

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4

Comparing stats: Alabama vs. Cincinnati ahead of CFP Cotton Bowl matchup

How do the two teams compare in the stat columns?

We are now just 10 days away from Alabama’s semifinal matchup with the Cincinnati Bearcats. Following Christmas, each team will head off to Dallas to continue its preparation for the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic.

Before the two teams collide, I thought we could take a look at how they compare statistically on each side of the football.

Let’s get it started!

First …offensive stats…

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4

Experts make College Football Playoff semifinal predictions

Who do the experts have moving on to the National Championship?

The college football Bowl Season is upon us, and teams from all across the country will face equal competition at neutral sites for the title of ‘bowl champion’ for a year. However, on Dec. 31, four teams will compete in two bowl games, where the winners will go on to participate in the final game of the season, and one team will leave with a trophy, the other with disappointment.

The two College Football Playoff semifinal games this season are the Cotton Bowl and the Orange Bowl.

No. 1 Alabama will face No. 4 Cincinnati in Arlington, Texas for the Cotton Bowl; and No. 2 Michigan will play No. 3 Georgia in Miami, Florida for the Orange Bowl.

Seven experts from USA TODAY Sports made their predictions for all bowl games this year, including the two semifinal matchups.

For Bulldogs vs. Wolverines, the panel was split. Five of the seven selected Georgia, but two chose Michigan to move on to the National Championship.

In the Crimson Tide vs. Bearcats contest, it was unanimous: Nick Saban and Alabama will move on to play for national championship No. 19 for the program.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to cover the Crimson Tide leading up to the 2021 Cotton Bowl game against Cincinnati.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on Twitter @SpurrFM.