Alabama claims it has 15 national titles, but several are disputed

“This is a dream of mine that I wouldn’t trade for anything”.

Successful head coaches in any sport are only as good as their players. The game features arguably the two best teams in the country.

Once again, Clemson players have fueled their inspiration with the fumes of doubters.

This team has arrived on cusp of greatness essentially a year ahead of schedule after losing the bulk of its talent off the nation’s top-rated defense of a season ago. Swinney grew up near Birmingham and played for Alabama when Gene Stallings was the coach in the early 1990s.

Clemson, on the other hand, are getting ready to take to college football’s biggest stage for the first time.

In running back Derrick Henry, they have the Heisman Trophy victor. “It’s really the fundamentals of the game”. Clemson is hot this year being the number one seed and the favorite to take the trophy home this year.

“Close to ideal”, countered ESPN college football analyst Danny Kanell. “They are young players”.

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“The whole season, we’ve been making things happen”, Stewart said of his team, which suffered its only loss in its third game of the season against Ole Miss. “Nothing special or out of our league”. While Watson is the engine that drives the entire Tigers offense, as Michigan State learned last week, if you pile everyone up to stop Henry, then Alabama quarterback Jake Coker has the tools to win games too, not just manage them.

Alabama’s forte has been defense and the Crimson Tide didn’t disappoint this season, ranking second in the nation in total defense (256.8 yards per game) and first in sacks (50.0) while creating 26 turnovers as a group. If he struggles, or even if he’s average, ‘Bama will win and Saban will only further cement his legacy as arguably the best in the sport’s history. They advanced to the championship game with a 37-17 victory over No. 4 Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl.

On Saturday, ESPN analyst Mark May noted the Crimson Tide haven’t faced a quarterback this season like Clemson’s Deshaun Watson. “That’s what I’ve been doing all season, and it won’t change this week because it’s the national championship”. Ragland has recorded 97 total tackles this season, and can make plays against both the run and pass. “For us, we’re going to go out there and prepare like we always do”. It’s the team that makes less mistakes that’s going to win this game.

Of course, the run came first – and it help set up the passing game. “Blessed me”, Henry said.

Clemson, at 14-0, comes in as the only undefeated team in college football, after winning their second ACC title in 24 years.

“We’ve had a great year”.

“It’s impossible”, Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart said.