CFP CHAMPIONSHIP: Buckeyes' Fields shakes off injury, readies for title game

Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields took a shot to the ribs in the Sugar Bowl victory over Clemson. He says he plans to play against Alabama on Monday. (Jonathan Bachman)

By GRAHAM DUNN

Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields wants everybody to know  - he’s playing in the College Football Playoff Championship.

Fields took a serious blow to the rib section during the Buckeyes’ 49-28 win over Clemson in the Sugar Bowl last weekend. He was seen grimacing when trainers were looking after him on the sideline and later when he let loose his passes, although he still connected on 22 of his 28 attempts, six of those for touchdowns.

“I'll be good by Monday night,” Fields said.

Whether the game goes as scheduled on Monday or moved to a later date, Fields was emphatic about his plans to be on the field when the Buckeyes face Alabama for the national title.

“I just want to make one thing clear, it's that I have my full trust in the trainers here at Ohio State and Dr. Borchers,” Fields said during Thursday’s virtual media event.

“I wasn't, you know, I guess hesitant on taking anything that they would give me, but I was just trying to do whatever I could do to get back on the field. I think those guys handled it the way I would have wanted it to be handled. I've said in the postgame interview to kind of get taken out of context and to be like, Oh, they just shot him up and sent him back out there.

“It wasn't like that. I think they did a full, I guess, analysis of my injury and how it was, and they thought -- they did what they thought was best. Yeah, I was fully comfortable with that”

When a reporter asked if the injury might affect his play, he returned to the same answer he gave originally.

“I'll be good by Monday night.”

The Buckeyes’ passing game had not been questioned prior to the win over Clemson. They averaged 253 yards per game.

But in the Sugar Bowl, Fields set new highs in touchdown passes and yardage. He had 427 yards in total offense.

“I think he's done a better job of keeping his feet in the pocket and keeping his eyes downfield, but he still has the ability to be able to hurt you and tuck it and run,” said Alabama defensive coordinator Pete Golding. “So I really think he's become a complete quarterback, not labeled as an athlete.”

This will not be the first time Fields faces Alabama. His first stop in the college ranks was at Georgia and he became somewhat infamous for both Tide and Bulldog fans for a botched fake punt during the 2018 SEC Championship game that allowed Alabama great field position and eventually led to Bama’s winning points.

“All I remember is that I went out on the punt,” Fields said. “Everybody was yelling my name and the punt didn't go the way we wanted to. That's the only memory that I have from that one play.

“I took a lot from that game, first playing Alabama and playing those guys. But, yeah, just being at this stage, I feel like that's the biggest thing that I remember.”

That mistake may have parlayed a move to Ohio State where he has blossomed as the starting quarterback. Last year, he led them to the semifinals before losing to Clemson, thanks in part to a late interception thrown in the end zone.

Ironically, Fields never visited Columbus prior to the transfer. But he felt an immediate connection to head coach Ryan Day.

“I think the connection that me and Coach Day had from day one was genuine,” Fields said. “Of course everyone knows he's a great offensive-minded coach, and I knew that he was going to make me a better player. That's all I was really worried about when choosing a school. And when I knew it was going to work out was the first touchdown I scored against FAU during the first game of last year.”

Fields doesn’t expect his injury to be a hindrance Monday. He expects to play his regular game, which will include plenty of running, if needed.

“People forget that what happened in the team up north game (Michigan) when he took that shot in the knee, one play came out, he went back in one play later and threw a touchdown pass scrambling to his left to Garrett Wilson in the end zone. It was like, Whoa. And then this was another one,” Day said.

“So then to see him come back after that hit and throw four touchdown passes, throw the ball 65 yards down the field, I mean, unbelievable.”