Tune in at 8:30 PM ET as Alabama takes on Notre Dame. Gino Bottero will be liveblogging for your enjoyment.
Welcome everyone! I'll be live blogging the BCS National Championship game between the No. 1 Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the second-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide.
Tonight's game will be played at Sun Life Stadium in Miami, Florida.
Nick Saban last coached in this stadium on Christmas Day, 2006 when it was known as Dolphins Stadium and he was the head coach of the Miami Dolphins. The Jets beat the Dolphins on that day, 13-10.
On this day in 2010, Nick Saban won his first National Championship with Alabama, beating Texas, 37-21.
For the second year in a row the BCS National Championship game will feature the top two scoring defenses in the nation. Notre Dame has allowed 10.3 points per game, while Alabama has allowed 10.7 points per game.
With a win today, Notre Dame would be the first team since BYU in 1984 win the national title after being unranked in the AP preseason poll. The Irish haven't won the national championship since 1988.
Notre Dame senior linebacker and Heisman Trophy runner-up Manti Te'o has accounted for 103 tackles and seven interceptions this season.
The anthem has concluded in Miami, and the game should get underway shortly.
Notre Dame is 4-0-1 all-time when ranked No. 1 in the AP poll and playing the team ranked No. 2.
Both sides have a great chance to claim the title tonight.
AJ McCarron has thrown for 26 touchdowns and three interceptions on the year, putting together a 173.1 passer rating.
Notre Dame tight end Tyler Eifert is tops all-time among Irish tight ends in both receptions (134) and receiving yards (1,759).
Both teams are out on the field now. Tough to tell which side's fans were louder when they came out. Great turnout tonight.
ALA QB AJ McCarron is 24-2 at Alabama.
ND LB Manti T'eo received more Heisman votes this season than any defense-only player.
Hopefully this blog fills some of that void.
Here we goo baby ND #Irish #uNDefeatedby Ryan Nolan via twitter 1/8/2013 1:18:14 AM
i'm tired of the SEC always winning , let's go NOTRE DAME !!by Steve-O ! via twitter 1/8/2013 1:18:25 AM
Notre Dame better win this! #underdog #FightingIrishby Dylan Casper via twitter 1/8/2013 1:18:47 AM
Eddie Lacy and T.J. Yeldon bout to tear up this overrated ND defense. AJ McCarron goin to destroy the weak ND secondary. #GameOn #ROLLTIDEby KoreanInAKayak via twitter 1/8/2013 1:21:24 AM
RollTide. AJ McCarron. Let's go. #Bamaby ThatStupidSpic via twitter 1/8/2013 1:21:55 AM
Nick Saban honed his craft in East Lansing...also where he learned the joy of snug, tan, polyester coaching pants. Go Green. #NDvsBAMAby Dark Mantonio via twitter 1/8/2013 1:22:14 AM
If Notre Dame comes out to "All Gold Everything" they may win this thing. #NDvsBamaby Kody Myers via twitter 1/8/2013 1:22:23 AM
After watching Miami Hurricane games 4 a couple of seasons, I forgot fans DO show up to Sun Life Stadium to watch watch college. #NDvsBamaby RickyBowersock via twitter 1/8/2013 1:22:45 AM
Amazing the legacies that both of these teams have #NDvsBamaby David Allen via twitter 1/8/2013 1:22:54 AM
Manti Te'o and Tyler Eifert will walk out of the tunnel wearing Notre Dame jerseys for the last time tonight. #LoveThoseBoysby _morganbailey_ via twitter 1/8/2013 1:23:04 AM
It's all about Tyler Eifert #NDby BGOOD1536 via twitter 1/8/2013 1:23:07 AM
Never thought I'd be rooting for the Irish but there's a first for everything. #NDvsBAMAby craigberning via twitter 1/8/2013 1:24:57 AM
Huge crowd in Miami. Would be great to be there. #NDvsBamaby hcdc93 via twitter 1/8/2013 1:24:58 AM
Love that Manti is leading them out! #NDvsBAMAby TeraK via twitter 1/8/2013 1:25:23 AM
I get chill bumps watching these teams run out of the tunnel. Wow I miss that. #NDvsBAMAby corban taylor via twitter 1/8/2013 1:26:27 AM
