ARLINGTON, Texas – Alabama linebacker Will Anderson Jr. brought home the Felix R. McKnight Trophy for Most Valuable Defensive Player in the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the 86th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic. Anderson registered 6 tackles to help lead No. 1 Alabama to a 27-6 victory over the No. 4 Cincinnati Bearcats on Friday.

Anderson stood as a major threat to the Cincinnati offensive line as he recorded a pair of sacks in the game. He capped the third quarter with a vital third down, ten-yard sack to help solidify the Crimson Tide win.

"That's one of our biggest goals as a defense is holding people to a certain amount of points and what we did tonight is unbelievable," Anderson said. "We still have more work to do, but for us to meet the goal, that's one of our biggest goals on the goal sheet. It means a lot to us, and we just got to keep going." 

After today's game, Anderson has totaled 92 tackles and leads the SEC with 15.5 sacks on the season.

The sophomore won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy which is awarded annually to the nation's top defensive player. He also was named a unanimous All-American and All-SEC first team member. 

With the win, the Crimson Tide advance to the College Football National Championship which will be played on Monday, January 10 in Indianapolis, Ind. The bout will mark Alabama's fifth appearance in the title game in the last six years.

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