Dominate the Super Bowl

Chapter 81: Like taking something out of a bag

Crimson Tide Storm?

By the seventh week of NCAA games, the number one defense was the Crimson Tide Storm, but surprisingly, the number one offense also belonged to the Crimson Tide Storm.

Is that certain?

Are the statistics correct?

But no matter how many times one rubbed their eyes and checked, the result was the same.

Logically, with such a dominant offense, the quarterback would undoubtedly be in the spotlight, but this is the Crimson Tide Storm, where the running back is the focal point.

Li Wei! Jacobs!

The twin stars shine.

Jacobs, a highly-regarded four-star high school athlete, proved his worth. Appointed as the starting running back during spring training camp, he was far from being unworthy of his reputation and under Burns' guidance, he rapidly grew, undergoing a splendid transformation to become an essential part of Crimson Tide Storm's top-tier ground offense.

Averaging 88.3 yards on the ground per game, he amassed seven rushing touchdowns across six games, a powerful performance that attracted a lot of attention.

However, without comparison there is no harm.

Jacobs' performance was already impressive, but Li Wei was even better.

This rookie, who seemingly emerged from the cracks in the rocks, like an alien bursting onto the football field, continued to bring surprise after surprise with his incomparable performance, proving with his actions that the opening game had not fully unleashed his energy.

Averaging 133.8 yards on the ground per game, he had already scored thirteen touchdowns in six games.

Though slightly less than Derrick Henry's beast-like performance last year, he was almost there, displaying an unbelievable dominance with a completely different style, perfectly filling the void left by Derrick Henry's departure and pushing Crimson Tide Storm's ground offense to new heights.

So far, Crimson Tide Storm's toughest and most dangerous game had been against the NCAA's nineteenth-ranked University of Mississippi.

Initially, everyone thought it would be an easy win without any suspense, but the University of Mississippi made its voice heard.

Without the lead of a star player, this team playing at home showed the right way to play football, relying on teamwork. They performed divinely on offense, severely challenging Crimson Tide Storm's formidable defensive group, and kept the score close and unresolved throughout the game.

The deadlock continued until the fourth quarter.

In the end, Li Wei stepped forward.

A third gear, four-yard ground attack turned into a seventeen-yard rushing touchdown, and a successful fourth down, two-yard strong play with a fake run turned into a real pass for a cover touchdown, helping Hertz complete a passing touchdown.

"48:43".

Crimson Tide Storm won by a hair's breadth.

In a critical moment, facing the dilemma of playing away, Li Wei displayed a tough style and high fighting spirit, dramatically extending the Crimson Tide's Undefeated Golden Body.

Strictly speaking, Crimson Tide Storm's ground offense this season was even better than the past two seasons.

In the last two seasons, Crimson Tide Storm relied solely on Derrick Henry's arduous support, but this year, the healthy competition between Li Wei and Jacobs unleashed even greater strength in Crimson Tide Storm's ground offense, as they swept through six victories as if Like taking something out of a bag, advancing aggressively and unstoppably.

Exciting, no doubt about it, thrilling even.

But as Bran had expected—

Lack of challenge.

The opponents were not strong.

Due to the NCAA schedule, the highest-ranked adversary in Crimson Tide Storm's six consecutive victories was the University of Arkansas, only at sixteenth place.

These teams lacked competitiveness, and their defensive groups were generally weak, not putting enough pressure on the Crimson Tide Storm so that Saban's ground attack went full throttle, and the young Li Wei and Jacobs hadn't faced a real test yet.

However, challenges were about to come, and moreover, they were coming in waves; the death schedule was rapidly approaching.

Week 7, University of Tennessee, currently ranked seventh.

Week 8, Texas A&M University, currently ranked sixth.

Week 9, Louisiana State University, currently ranked thirteenth.

Three consecutive strong opponents, the test had just begun.

This was the real moment for scouts to assess the true value of the Crimson Tide Storm's offensive group.

Not just Brand, other media were no exception, one after another, fearing the world was not chaotic enough, they had already been stirring and brewing from a month ago, with expectations climbing higher and higher.

The main event was about to begin, and reporters were all stirred up, surging in groups, unable to contain their excitement and agitation, gathering at the gates of the stadium.

They crowded together bustlingly, just waiting for the training to end so they could start their interviews at the earliest opportunity.

"Here they come," "here they come"...

In the rustling of voices, all the recorders charged toward the person in front of them, as if they couldn't wait to shove the recorders deep into his throat.

"Lamar, people generally believe that Li Wei is a better and more outstanding player, and it seems that his Heisman calls are catching up to you. What do you think?"

Lamar Jackson looked at the recorders poking into his nostrils and the corners of his mouth with a face full of desolation.

Wait a minute.

Is it Jackson who's appearing before the reporters at this moment? Not Li Wei, but Jackson? Are you sure you're not at the wrong place?

Of course not.

After all, Li Wei was in Alabama, and Jackson in Kentucky, with a Tennessee in between— even if the navigation was wrong, it could not possibly be so wildly off course.

Lamar Jackson, the quarterback of the Louisville Cardinals, a sophomore this year, is widely considered the frontrunner for the 2016 Heisman Trophy.

Why?

Naturally, it's due to his performance on the field.

In the season opener against the Charlotte 49ers, Jackson set an NCAA record with eight touchdowns in a single game, becoming the player with the most touchdowns in a single game.

For reference, the personal record for the most touchdowns in a single NFL game is still seven touchdowns as of 2023.

Moreover, what's more astounding is that all eight of Jackson's touchdowns came in the first half, clocking out early from work, a scene that was very similar to someone else's.

At that time, people did not compare Li Wei and Jackson:

One quarterback and one running back, one already hailed as a potential new star since last season and one who only popped out this season, one from the Atlantic Coast Conference and the other from the Southeastern Conference, one the darling of the heavens and the other a rookie rising from grassroots— there was no basis for comparison between the two, no need to force a connection.

But!

As time went by, attention gradually converged, and the names of both players began appearing frequently in Heisman Trophy discussions, with talk becoming more and more heated.

Week 3, the third-ranked Louisville Cardinals against the second-ranked Florida State University, this game was also touted as the battle for the contender for the Crimson Tide Storm's throne.

Jackson played like a man possessed, completing 13 of 20 passing attempts for 216 yards, scoring one passing touchdown, and giving one interception; while rushing for 146 yards on the ground, scoring four rushing touchdowns, dominating the game in the manner of a king, and completely taking control of the outcome.

"63:20," the Louisville Cardinals demolished Florida State University.

It was precisely because of this game that Jackson's odds in the Heisman Trophy prediction jumped to first, becoming the frontrunner of NCAA this year.

And on that list, one could also see the name of Li Wei.