Cincinnati Bearcats vs Alabama Crimson Tide Box Score on Dec 31, 2021

Alabama will play for a second straight national title after the top-ranked Crimson Tide defeated No. 4 Cincinnati 27-6 in a College Football Playoff semifinal in Arlington, Texas, on Friday.

Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young threw for 181 yards and three touchdowns for Alabama (13-1), and Brian Robinson Jr. ran for a Crimson Tide bowl-record and career-high 204 yards on 26 carries to win the Cotton Bowl.

"I was really pleased with the way we played in the game," Alabama coach Nick Saban said. "We knew it was going to be a tough game. We did a great job of running the ball offensively. The defense came up with some really big stops, some really big plays in the game."

Cincinnati (13-1), the first non-Power 5 school to play in the CFP, kept it close until Young found Ja'Corey Brooks for a 44-yard TD with 1:36 left in the first half to make it 17-3.

Quarterback Desmond Ridder was 17 of 32 for 144 yards for Cincinnati, which managed just 218 total yards. Alabama had 482, including 301 on the ground.

The Crimson Tide will face No. 3 Georgia, a 34-11 winner over No. 2 Michigan on Friday, in the championship game on Jan. 10 in Indianapolis. The

"I'm really proud of this group to come this far," Saban said. "They've got an opportunity now and now's not the time to be relieved, but it's also time to enjoy what we accomplished tonight."

Alabama downed Ohio State in 2020-21 and earned titles in 2015-16 and 2017-18 while losing in the 2016-17 and 2018-19 finals since the first CFP in 2014-15.

Cincinnati pulled within 17-6 early in the third quarter on a 37-yard field goal by Cole Smith, but the Crimson Tide extended the lead to 24-6 with 13:52 left in the game on Cameron Latu's 9-yard reception.

Young (17 of 28) has 46 TD passes to smash the school single-season record of 43 by Tua Tagovailoa in 2018.

Alabama's Will Reichard added a 43-yard field goal with 6:20 left for the final margin.

The Crimson Tide asserted themselves on the game's opening drive, going 75 yards in 11 plays for a 7-0 lead on an 8-yard pass from Young to Slade Bolden. Robinson had six carries for 37 yards in the series and receiver Jameson Williams had an 18-yard run.

"When the opportunity presented itself, I was ready for it," Robinson said. "It's a great knowing this team is behind me, trusts me to go out there and give it my all."

Cincinnati's first possession resulted in a 33-yard field goal by Smith to make it 7-3. Reichard made it a seven-point lead with a 26-yard field goal on the first play of the second quarter.

The Bearcats still end their season with a school record for victories.

"My wife will make me take a few deep breaths tonight and realize what these guys have done and where they've taken us," Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell said. "Words can't describe what this team means to me. They've created an atmosphere that's a true family."

--Field Level Media