NEW ORLEANS — Ohio State is headed to Dallas.

After a shaky start, the fourth-ranked Buckeyes upset No. 1 Alabama on Thursday night in the Sugar Bowl, 42-35.

With the Buckeyes clinging to a 34-28 lead, they took the field 5:24 remaining. After picking up a first down, Ezekiel Elliott took it 85 yards to the house to give Ohio State a two-touchdown edge before it hung on for dear life with one final defensive stop.

Elliott finished the day with 230 yards on 20 carries as the Ohio State offense racked up 537 total yards.

1 2 3 4 F OHIO STATE 6 14 14 12 42 ALABAMA 14 7 7 7 35

Alabama turned two first-half Ohio State turnovers into 14 points. After Elliott fumbled, Derrick Henry ran 25 yards to the end zone to put the Crimson Tide ahead, 7-3. Cardale Jones then threw an interception which later led to a 2-yard touchdown run from T.J. Yeldon.

The Buckeyes fell behind 21-6, before rattling off 28 straight points. Evan Spencer threw a touchdown pass to Michael Thomas right before halftime to trim Alabama's lead to 21-20.

Jones then hooked up with Devin Smith for a 47-yard touchdown on the opening drive of the third quarter and defensive end Steve Miller returned an interception 41 yards to give Ohio State a 34-21 edge.

The Buckeyes will face Oregon on Jan. 12 for the national championship