Alabama Annihilates Michigan State, Will Play Clemson For National Championship

Crimson Tide blows out the Spartans 38-0 in Cotton Bowl.

Michigan State got their butts bruised tonight in a nationally televised spanking administered over the collective knee of the Alabama Crimson Tide. The final score was 38-0, which is notable since you probably bailed halfway through the third quarter. Tonight's 'W' for the SEC champs will get them a spot in the National Title game against Clemson, who trounced the Oklahoma Sooners mere hours earlier. 

If you love to watch punts (and who doesn't?) you loved the first half of this semifinal as the Spartans and Tide exchanged boots on each of their first seven possessions. It was riveting TV that was no doubt worth delaying your partying plans for, but unfortunately it had to end. With about five minutes left in the second quarter, Nick Saban's crew ignited as Heisman winner Derrick Henry made it into the end zone on a one-yard run. Later they tacked on a field goal to take a 10-0 lead into halftime.

In the second half it was all Bama, again. Wide receiver Calvin Ridley (8 catches, 138 yards, 2 TD on the night) hauled in this six-yard touchdown grab to make it 17-0:

He added a 50-yard score later in the third quarter.

In between his two trips to pay dirt was this 57-yard punt return TD from Cyrus Jones:

And to cap it all off was the fourth quarter touchdown/unreal stiff arm by Henry on three-time first-team Big Ten defensive end Shilique Calhoun (view it over and over again at the top of this page). Surely the Spartans/their fans/Calhoun's draft stock didn't need that. But it served as an apt metaphor nonetheless.

Anyway the final game of 2015 cemented the title game for the season (you might've seen it hyped through any number of insufferable ad campaigns at some point this year). That contest, between the 13-1 Tide and 14-0 Tigers, will take place on Monday, January 11. There should be a lot less parties on your schedule to contend with then.

[via @TheCauldron, Vine]

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