Clemson vs Alabama: Number 1 takes on Number 2

Saban won his fourth national title at Alabama and fifth overall.

The College Football Playoff National Championship featuring the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Clemson Tigers have one sports store eager to take advantage of customers looking to celebrate after the game.

The Tide’s successful onside kick in the fourth quarter set up a touchdown pass that gave Alabama a 31-24 lead. On the ensuing kickoff, Crimson Tide kicker Leigh Griffin tried a high, short onside kick that was recovered by Marlon Humphrey to set up Alabama near midfield.

Two plays later, Alabama quarterback Jake Coker connected on a 51-yard touchdown pass to tight end O.J. Howard that swung the lead back to Alabama and sucked the life out of Clemson’s sideline. Howard caught just five passes but tallied 208 total yards.

Watson, who finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting, had carried the Tigers (14-1) all season.

After Watson and walk-on Hunter Renfrow hooked up for two touchdowns to give Clemson a 14-7 lead at the end of the first quarter, Henry tied it up with a 1-yard plunge.

Alabama’s Derrick Henry carried 36 times for 158 yards and three touchdowns, a 50-yarder and a pair of 1-yard runs.

Still, two of the most crucial plays in the game came on special teams for Alabama. In both the Cotton Bowl against Michigan State, and the SEC Championship game against Florida, Coker thew for more 200 yards and two touchdowns – with no interceptions.

Huegel narrowed the margin to four points, 21-17, when he hit a 37-yard field goal with 10:10 left in the third quarter.

“It’s just truly a few plays that make the difference”, Swinney said, “but for us, you know, this is a great experience for our team against a team that represents the best, and (I’m) really happy for coach (Nick) Saban”.

A daring onside kick turned the tide in Alabama’s favor and touched off a second-half scoring explosion.

Watson’s had bigger stat showings, his career best coming with 435 yards passing in his first game as a starter last season against North Carolina. “I thought we needed to do something to change the momentum, and that certainly did”, Saban said.

Where the Tigers faltered badly was special teams.

Had the clock not continued to run, Clemson’s offense likely would have hurried to the line and snapped the ball with roughly 13 seconds remaining, and they still would have had their timeout. After a disappointing semifinal loss previous year, Alabama will be looking to retake the top spot.

Watson disagrees. He said he’s got to work on his accuracy and get stronger. Gallman bludgeoned Oklahoma in the second half of the Orange Bowl, but he gained just eight yards on eight carries in the first half here. Coach Dabo Swinney took some comfort in the fact that Watson, who ran and threw for 478 yards against Alabama’s defense, one of the best in college football history.