Sat Jan 11 01:10:00 UTC 2025: **Former Alabama Standouts to Clash in Cotton Bowl CFP Semifinal**
ARLINGTON, TX – While Alabama’s football team missed the College Football Playoff this year, the Crimson Tide’s influence will still be felt in the Cotton Bowl. The highly anticipated semifinal matchup between No. 8 Ohio State and No. 5 Texas will feature a key battle between two former Alabama players: Ohio State safety Caleb Downs and Texas receiver Isaiah Bond.
Though a direct matchup is unlikely, both players are expected to significantly impact the game’s outcome. Downs, a standout for the Buckeyes in his first season, boasts impressive statistics including 71 tackles, one interception, six pass deflections, and half a sack. His performance against Oregon in the quarterfinals, which included three pass breakups, highlights his defensive prowess.
Downs’ transfer to Ohio State from Alabama in January 2023 followed the surprising retirement of legendary coach Nick Saban and the departure of his position coach, Travaris Robinson. Overwhelmed by recruiting calls after entering the transfer portal, Downs ultimately chose Ohio State due to his connection with Buckeyes secondary coach Tim Walton. A five-star recruit and the nation’s top-ranked safety in the 2023 class, Downs’ move was considered one of the biggest in the transfer portal. Bond, also a former Alabama player, is ranked fourth among transfer players this year.
The Cotton Bowl clash will be a captivating encounter, pitting the skills of these two highly-touted former Crimson Tide players against each other in a battle for a spot in the national championship game.
First Piper 