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LOOK: Pair of former Alabama stars cheering on Crimson Tide at Cotton Bowl

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultz•12/31/21•

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(Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

As Alabama takes on Cincinnati in the Cotton Bowl, there are plenty of big names in attendance. That includes two former Crimson Tide standouts who aren’t strangers to AT&T Stadium.

Dallas Cowboys stars Amari Cooper and Trevon Diggs are both at the game, which is taking place at the Cowboys’ home stadium. Cooper played for the Crimson Tide from 2012-14 and Diggs was there from 2016-20.

Cooper was a first team All-SEC nominee in 2014 before going to the Cowboys as the No. 4 pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. Since getting to the NFL, Cooper has made four Pro Bowls for Dallas.

Diggs made his first Pro Bowl this year after the Cowboys took him with the 51st overall pick in 2020. After an injury-riddled 2020 season, Diggs has bounced back to lead the NFL with 11 interceptions this season. He’s become a big part of Dallas’ revamped defense under first-year defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.

The Cowboys are 11-4 this year and still have a shot at the No. 1 seed in the NFC. They’ve already secured the NFC East title and are getting ready to take on the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.

Bryce Young makes Alabama history in College Football Playoff semifinal

With an early touchdown pass to Slade Bolden, Alabama quarterback Bryce Young made history. The score was Young’s 44th passing touchdown this year as he passed Tua Tagovailoa for the school single-season record.

Facing Cincinnati in a College Football Playoff semifinal, the Crimson Tide wasted no time in getting on the board. They scored with 9:51 left in the first quarter on the pass to Bolden that was also Young’s first throw of the game. Alabama ran the ball on each of the 10 plays prior.

Young entered Friday’s contest as the Heisman Trophy winner coming off of an impressive performance against Georgia in the SEC Championship. He threw for 421 yards — his second-highest mark of the season — and three touchdowns in that one.

The Bearcats would answer with a field goal on their opening drive to make the score 7-3 in the first quarter.

The passing milestone that the sophomore quarterback set against the Bearcats is simply his latest, not the first. Bryce Young also made Alabama history by breaking the school single-game record for passing yards with 559 against Arkansas this season. His passing yardage against the Bulldogs in the conference championship game broke an SEC record.

He also became the first Crimson Tide quarterback to win the Heisman Trophy. It’s safe to say that his name is already cemented in Alabama lore.