For a moment, all appeared lost. On January 1, 2021, #2 Clemson and #3 Ohio State played in the Sugar Bowl. (Just to be clear, faithful table tennis aficionados, we're talking about college football here.) With a berth in the national championship on the line, the two undefeated teams left it all on the field. The scariest moment for Buckeye nation (i.e. Ohio State fans) came when, leading 21-14, their quarterback Justin Fields suffered a brutal hit from Clemson linebacker James Skalski. With Fields in a full run, Skalski lowered his helmet and drove it straight into Fields' ribs with frightening force. Skalski would be ejected for targeting. As Fields lay on the field, the Buckeyes held their collective breath, the interdependent fates of their quarterback and their season in doubt. Fields was helped off the field and tended to by the team's medical staff. A few plays later, Fields would return to cap the drive with a 9-yard touchdown pass to pad the lead. Although Fields was visibly pained to throw, he ultimately put the bigger hurt on Clemson, upsetting the much-ballyhooed Tigers, 49-28. For his heroics, Fields earned a matchup with #1 Alabama in tomorrow's national championship. The question on the mind of every emotionally invested fan and financially interested bettor is how healthy Fields will be when he takes the field in Miami's Hard Rock Stadium. While the Buckeyes would prefer to keep this under wraps, at least from the prying eyes of Alabama defensive coordinator Pete Golding, a leaked video may have just revealed more than they intended. A cell phone video shows the Buckeyes recreating in their Miami hotel lobby. On opposite ends of a ping-pong table are the aforementioned quarterback Justin Fields and linebacker Justin Hilliard. Amid dozens of onlookers, respecting neither social distance nor the 20' X 40' floor space required for table tennis competition, Fields serves (illegally, no toss) a crosscourt topspin to Hilliard's forehand. Hilliard drives Fields back with a crisp forehand topspin, forcing a high return. Once again, Fields braces for a devastating hit from a linebacker. Hilliard does not miss his shot. With a quick move to his right, he smashes a brutal cross-court forehand, much to the excitement of the crowd. Their celebration proves premature, however, as Fields tracks the ball far to his right, dropping into a patented "School of Rock" power-slide to lob the ball over his shoulder. As the crowd stares in disbelief, the ball find's Hilliard's side of the table, just catching the edge as the linebacker stumbles in vain to equal his quarterback's miraculous recovery. Fields shouts, "Respect my game, bro!" The crowd respects his wishes by promptly going berserk, celebrating as if they had just won the national championship on a Hail Mary. While it may not be wise to make bold prognostications, let alone wagers, based on Justin Fields' table tennis talents, it is certainly a good sign for Ohio State fans to see their quarterback moving well and appearing loose and confident. On the gridiron and the table, just when all appeared lost, Fields has shown the resilience to bounce back from a crushing blow and get the W. Good luck, Alabama.

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