CFP championship’s viewership down nearly a quarter from ’15

Alabama did it again, and the dynasty is as good as ever.

Thank goodness Saban didn’t buy a Powerball ticket, leaving folks one more shot at their dream.

Alabama kicker Adam Griffith had just tied the game at 24 with a 33-yard field goal with 10:39 on the clock.

“I think as long as he’s in Alabama, Alabama is going to be up at the top”, Coker said of his head coach.

And not Alabama defensive back Maurice Smith who took this crushing blow to the head.

Alabama had allowed only 19 points in the opening quarter its first 14 games before giving up two touchdowns to Watson’s Tigers. The Tigers pulled within five as Watson connected with Artavis Scott for a 15-yard touchdown with 4:40 remaining, but Henry’s third touchdown run put the game away. It would be interesting to hear the argument against Watson, who had never lost a game he had finished at Clemson until this one. The swoosh also took flight to enter the end zone with a diving Kenyan Drake crossing the pylon on a 95-yard kick return in the fourth quarter.

The onside kick call took guts, but had it been unsuccessful, Saban and his staff would have been second-guessed.

Alabama joins Notre Dame, which won four titles from 1943-49.

In the meantime, 2015’s Clemson squad rekindles memories of other terrific football teams that came up just short of winning the ultimate prize for one reason or another.

He completed 30-of-47 passes for 405 yards and four touchdowns, and he ran 20 times for 73 yards. He accounted for 478 total yards against the No. 1 scoring defense in the country, making magical plays with his arm and legs to keep Clemson in the game.

Instead, Saban and the Tide raised another trophy, its first in this new playoff system, and got another confetti shower.

Florida State is the only ACC team that most current high school recruits have seen prove that it can in fact not only compete for a title, but win one. Now granted 167 of those yards came on three completions to a wide open O.J. Howard, but his 38-yarder to ArDarius Stewart was as good as it gets. Both of his touchdowns went to Howard, who recorded 208 yards on five catches (including a late 63-yard grab on second-and-long that helped ice the game).

In the end, the Tide had the luck – most of which they made – although they turned the game’s only turnover, an interception thrown by Watson, into a touchdown.

Typically by the end of January, Saban said Tuesday, the Tide will begin offseason weightlifting and conditioning while concentrating on their academic responsibilities.

A lot of people from Alabama probably celebrated the Crimson Tide’s 16th national championship by screaming “roll tide”. He has won national titles at Alabama with Greg McElroy, A.J. McCarron (twice) and now Coker.

Alabama called for a play-action rollout to Coker’s right.