The ESPN coaching jobs showdown series kicked off with two rivals from bordering states in the same league. Up next: Two national powers from different regions and conferences that command more attention than any pair in the sport.
Alabama and Ohio State completed the 2020 season by playing for a national title on Jan. 11. The Tide prevailed, earning their sixth national championship under coach Nick Saban. The teams had never met on the sport's biggest stage before. Few programs can match the history, coaching lineage, program support and fan bases of the Crimson Tide and the Buckeyes.