Sugar Bowl 2015: Players to Watch in Alabama vs. Ohio State Matchup

Football is a team sport, and with 11 men battling one another on each side of the field, it's rare that one individual player can completely tip the scales in favor of his side.

Still, in every contest there are a few players who are a bit more important than others. Maybe they play a key position or are a star performer. Perhaps they are an inexperienced player thrust into the spotlight or a player that has the ability to capitalize on an opponent's weakness. 

Whatever the case may be, every game has a few players absolutely worth paying close attention to from the opening kick. Let's break down three of those players from this year's Sugar Bowl between Alabama and Ohio State.

Cardale Jones, QB, Ohio State

Ohio State seemed doomed. For much of the season, its poor loss to Virginia Tech seemed like it would be the resume-killer that kept it out of the College Football Playoff. But it kept on winning big games, and it kept on looking better and better.

And then it happened. Heisman candidate and star quarterback J.T. Barrett—who, keep in mind, was supposed to be Braxton Miller's backup coming into this season—was injured in Ohio State's 42-28 victory over Michigan, a game before the Big Ten championship. 

The questions came flying in fast and furiously. Could Cardale Jones lead the Buckeyes past Wisconsin? Would the committee look less favorably on the Buckeyes with a backup quarterback in place for the rest of the season? Would Ohio State be the same team without Barrett. 

It turns out the team was just fine. Jones thew for 257 yards and three touchdowns, Ohio State cruised to a 59-0 win and the Buckeyes were headed to the playoff. 

That was Wisconsin, however. This is Alabama. This is a ferocious SEC defense that has chewed up and spit out talented quarterbacks in the past. This is a Nick Saban-led team that is no stranger to huge games. This is the biggest game of this young man's career.

How Jones deals with all of that will likely dictate the outcome of this game. If he is cool, composed and manages the offense, the Buckeyes should be in this game. If Jones tries to do too much, however, or if he's rattled early on and never finds a rhythm, Alabama is good enough to crush Ohio State.

Ohio State is used to being doubted this season. So is Jones. Never has there been a better time to prove all of the doubters wrong once and for all.

Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama

There might not be a more valuable player to his team than Amari Cooper was to Alabama this season. With Lane Kiffin running the offense and adding more of a passing flair to Alabama, it was Cooper who absolutely thrived, catching 115 passes for 1,656 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Ohio State can't allow Cooper to take over the game. Just ask Auburn, which watched him catch 13 passes for 224 yards and three scores in his signature performance of the season. Or Florida, which saw him catch 10 passes for 201 yards and three touchdowns. Texas A&M watched him catch eight passes for 140 yards and two scores. And against Tennessee, he caught nine passes for 224 yards and two scores.

Cooper has the ability to dominate any given game. If he does so against Ohio State, it's hard to see the Buckeyes winning this one.

Michael Bennett, DT, Ohio State

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There haven't been many defensive players much more dominant down the stretch of the 2013 season than Ohio State defensive tackle Michael Bennett. In his last five games, he has registered five sacks, 9.5 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles.

It turns out he saved his best for last as in those five games, Ohio State beat Michigan State and Minnesota on the road and crushed Wisconsin in the Big Ten title game.

Bennett isn't entirely sure why he has heated up so much down the stretch, as he told Austin Ward of ESPN:

"

I don’t really know what caused the change. I think it was Michigan State week, that was probably when it was the biggest difference. I think I played good football up until Michigan State week, but I think once they moved me to just straight three-technique and said, 'Go do what we know you can do,' I think that made me a lot more comfortable, a lot more confident than playing a new position. 

I don’t know, I was able to feed off my teammates and we just started gelling and things started working out.

"

Indeed, consistently playing the same role at defensive tackle likely has contributed to his excellent form. Ward also suggested that Bennett became a more dedicated practice player and gave even more effort on game days. Perhaps the senior captain decided he simply wanted to go out with a bang this year and help lead Ohio State to a national championship.

Whatever the case may be, Bennett has become a disruptive, dominant force on the defensive line and is the one Ohio State defensive player that might be able to slow down Alabama's efficient, balanced offense. If he's as dominant as he was to finish the regular season, the Buckeyes are going to be tough to beat.