Brian Robinson Jr. has Monster First Half in Cotton Bowl

Cincinnati's defense had its hands full trying to corral Alabama running back Brian Robinson Jr. in the first half of the 86th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classis in the College Football Playoff Semifinal. Robinson rushed for 134 yards on 17 carries. The Crimson Tide running back was eight yards short of the record for most yards in one half of a College Football Playoff semifinal game.

The record is held by Ohio State running back J.K. Dobbins who rushed for 142 yards on nine carries in the first half of the Fiesta Bowl against Clemson in 2019.

Alabama has run the ball early and often against the Cincinnati Bearcats. The Crimson Tide opened the game with 10 consecutive rushes, with the majority of the carries going to Robinson.

Alabama finished the half with 172 total yards on the ground and lead the Bearcats 17-3.

Get our free mobile app

The record for most rushing yards in a College Football Playoff Semifinal is held by Ezekial Elliott, who rushed for 230 yards against the Crimson Tide in the 2015 Sugar Bowl en route to a 42-35 victory over Alabama.

Tune into the College Football Playoff Semifinal matchup between Alabama and the Cincinnati Bearcats live on Tide 100.9. The local FM broadcast features Eli Gold, John Parker Wilson and the rest of the Crimson Tide Sports Network crew. Digitally through tide1009.com and the Tide 100.9 App ESPN's crew of Sean Kelley and Crimson Tide legend Barrett Jones are on the call.