On a balmy Santa Clara night, nothing could go right for Alabama football. Clemson freshman wide receiver Justyn Ross bursts past junior corner Saivion Smith for a 74-yard touchdown, deepening the wound and deficit for the Tide. A hobbled Smith departed the game via a cart with a lower leg injury.
Insert true freshman Josh Jobe.
Injuries ravaged Crimson Tide defensive backs all season. Starting corner Trevon Diggs succumbed to a season-ending broken foot against Arkansas. Freshman corner and likely contributor, Jalyn Amour Davis suffered an injury during warmups against Arkansas State.
Thrown into the national championship game with little experience is a tall task for any true freshman not named Tua Tagovailoa.