Ohio State RB Trey Sermon leaves National Championship Game with apparent injury after 1 series

Ohio State running back Trey Sermon went to the locker room with an apparent injury during the National Championship game.

Sermon carried the ball on the first play of the game for just two yards. Ohio State wasn’t able to convert a first down on the next few plays and ended up with a three-and-out.

Ohio State RB Trey Sermon headed to locker room. Not great early start for Buckeyes

— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) January 12, 2021

It’s too early to speculate what Sermon’s injury might be, but he appeared to be favoring his collarbone as he left the field.

Here’s the play:

Here’s the play where Sermon was injured. You can see him immediately grab at the collar of his shoulder pads. pic.twitter.com/6cLhGGrUNV

— Yahoo Sports College Football (@YahooSportsCFB) January 12, 2021

Sermon is pivotal to Ohio State’s chances of upsetting Alabama in this game. He’s rushed for a combined 524 yards in OSU’s last two games, including a record-setting 331 yards in the Big Ten Championship.

He’s arguably been Ohio State’s most important player over the stretch run of the 2020 season.

Ohio State is also without several other key starters due to COVID-19, including Tommy Togiai, Tyreke Smith and Blake Haubeil.

Alabama responded with a touchdown on the ensuing drive, giving the Tide a 7-0 lead.