If the largely uncompetitive College Football Playoff semifinal games on Friday could be distilled to two distinct moments, they’d be easy to select.
No. 1 Alabama’s systemic dispatching of No. 4 Notre Dame will long be remembered for tailback Najee Harris leaping over Notre Dame cornerback Nick McCloud, an athletic marvel that could well be the frozen moment which this Alabama season is remembered.
In No. 3 Ohio State’s 49-28 blowout of No. 2 Clemson later on Friday, the indelible image will be of the helmet of Clemson linebacker James Skalski crunching into the midsection of Justin Fields.