ARLINGTON, Texas – Alabama running back Brian Robinson Jr. earned the J. Curtis Sanford Trophy as the Offensive MVP in the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the 86th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic. Robinson's outstanding performance lifted No. 1 Alabama over No. 4 Cincinnati, 27-6, on New Year's Eve at AT&T Stadium.

The redshirt senior tailback finished the game with 26 carries for a career-high 204 yards and highlighted a Crimson Tide offense that amassed 482 total yards of total offense.

The Crimson Tide prioritized their ground game early, running the ball in each of their first 10 plays. Robinson finished the first half with 134 rushing yards, the fourth-most rushing yards at halftime in Cotton Bowl history.

"We started out running the ball. We had positive runs and we just had to trust it. Just stay with it," Robinson said. "We knew we were going to have an opportunity to run the ball the rest of the game. So with that first drive, coming off 10 carries, it just let me get my mind right and be prepared to run the ball the rest of the game."

The Crimson Tide continued leaning on their rushing attack in the second half and finished the game with 47 carries for 301 yards.

"I didn't think I was going to be in the spotlight. We just game plan. Whatever they throw at us, we knew we had to adjust," Robinson said. "Coach O'Brien trusted me and put the ball in my hands in critical situations. It meant a lot to me."

Robinson's performance lifted his season totals to 1,275 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. After their Cotton Bowl Classic win, the Crimson Tide moved to 13-1 on the season and advanced to the National Championship.

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