Sugar Bowl 2015: Breaking Down Biggest X-Factors in Alabama vs. Ohio State

Ohio State earned the final spot in the College Football Playoff, but the real challenge starts now with a Sugar Bowl matchup against Alabama.

Each of these teams are loaded with talented players on both sides of the ball, many of whom will be playing on Sundays in the future. However, it's not always the best players who make the difference in a competitive battle like this one.

While everyone will have to be at his best in order to advance to the national title game, these players will especially be important as X-factors for their team's success.

Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama

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T.J. Yeldon had secured the position as the go-to option for Alabama out of the backfield, with Derrick Henry appearing to be relegated to backup duty. Even in the run-heavy offense, the sophomore only averaged nine carries per game in the month of November.

However, the running back reminded people what he can do in the SEC Championship Game with a career-high 141 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the win over Missouri.

College GameDay joked about the challenge of tackling the 6'3", 241-pound behemoth:

Meanwhile, the real usefulness of the running back comes when he is still relatively fresh at the end of games. Matt Brown of Sports on Earth noted this issue for opposing defenders:

Yeldon will still have a big role in this game, but Henry is the one who can really be a difference-maker for the Ohio State defense. If he plays well, it could make the Crimson Tide very difficult to stop.

Xzavier Dickson, LB, Alabama

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With a quarterback making just his second start, Alabama will want to do whatever it takes to put him under as much pressure as possible. That role will fall on Xzavier Dickson. 

The senior heads into the bowl season with eight sacks, 10.5 tackles for loss and 10 quarterback hits, all of which lead the team.

Despite this, he doesn't get the credit he deserves, as noted by D.C. Reeves of The Tuscaloosa News during the win over Missouri:

He certainly cannot be overlooked in the Sugar Bowl, as his job will be extremely important. Although he only has one sack in the last four games, he needs to find a way to at least get pressure on Cardale Jones whenever possible.

If Alabama gives Ohio State time to develop plays, the Buckeyes have the skill to put up a lot of points.

Dontre Wilson, RB, Ohio State

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Although Dontre Wilson has been out since breaking his foot against Michigan State, he appears on track to return for the Sugar Bowl, according to Eleven Warriors:

If the sophomore is able to return, it would give a huge boost toward Ohio State's scoring chances in this one.

While the running back had trouble getting carries behind Ezekiel Elliott and Curtis Samuel, Wilson was a big factor in the passing game before getting hurt. Even after missing the past four games, he finished fourth on the team in receiving yards and third with 14.3 yards per catch.

Additionally, Wilson is especially important in the return game after averaging 9.7 yards per punt return and 24 yards per kickoff return. Only Elliott finished with more all-purpose yards this season than Wilson's 1,064 despite playing just nine games.

The dynamic player can score whenever he touches the ball and can be a game-changer in this one.

Cardale Jones, QB, Ohio State

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Usually a starting quarterback is not considered an X-factor, but most teams are usually not relying on such an inexperienced player in such an important game.

Jones made his first career start in the Big Ten Championship Game against Wisconsin and responded with three touchdowns, a 255.8 efficiency rating and a 59-0 win.

"Surprise, you're right, I don't use the word," head coach Urban Meyer said after the game. "I guess I'll use it for the first time. I was a little surprised. ... He's one of the most improved players I've ever been around."

Of course, it's important to remember that Jones only needed to throw 17 passes in a blowout victory while his teammates were able to do most of the work. This will not necessarily be the case against the No. 1 team in the nation.

The sophomore will be under pressure all day long, and he will be forced to make more plays himself with Alabama likely to slow down the rushing attack. His ability to respond will be the deciding factor in this game.

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