86th Classic Year in Review
2021 GAME SUMMARY Cincinnati earned the historic invite to the playoff party, but it was Alabama running back Brian Robinson Jr. who owned the dance floor in the 2021 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the 86th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic. Robinson, a fifth-year senior, rushed for a career-high 204 yards in a 27-6 victory on New Year’s Eve at AT&T Stadium. Robinson averaged 7.8 yards per carry while earning the J. Curtis Sanford Offensive Most Valuable Player Award. Cincinnati (13-1, 8-0 AAC) was the first member of a Group of Five conference to earn its way into the four-team College Football Playoff. The Bearcats, the American
Athletic Conference champion, were the last remaining undefeated squad. While Cincinnati was a newcomer to the national semifinals, Southeastern Conference champion Alabama (13-1, 7-1 SEC) was making its seventh College Football Playoff appearance in the eight years of the format. Alabama’s offense totaled 482 yards, including 301 on the ground, while the Crimson Tide defense did not allow a touchdown in holding Cincinnati to 218 yards. Outside linebacker Will Anderson Jr. earned the Felix McKnight Defensive Most Valuable Player Award with two sacks.
J. CURTIS SANFORD OFFENSIVE MVP
FELIX MCKNIGHT DEFENSIVE MVP
Brian Robinson Jr.
Will Anderson Jr.
Running Back Alabama
Outside Linebacker Alabama
26 CARRIES, 204 RUSHING YARDS
6 TACKLES, 2 SACKS
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