Clemson-Alabama is the game we all wanted

“They’re pretty close to identical; same build and run the same way”. One of those tacklers was Christian Wilkins, who appeared to use the opportunity to grope a prone Samuel. The Clemson defense will be seen in the nightmares of Ohio State for the foreseeable future, and Watson was his usual, unbelievable self, tossing for 259 yards and adding 57 rushing yards as well.

For Clemson on offense, they’ll need a similar performance from Deshaun Watson to the one they got previous year. “They know they’re good enough”. “I apologize for that, and I shook hands with him after the game”.

That huge tailback wearing a single-digit jersey number for Alabama probably reminds you of Derrick Henry.

Of course, that was probably exactly the reaction Wilkins was looking for.

Alabama’s defense has allowed the fewest points (11.8) and yards (248) per game in the nation this season. In all honesty, the Tigers shocked most of the country last season and almost did the unthinkable but a few mental errors and along with the disadvantage of the playing against arguably the greatest coach in college football history was just a hair too much for the orange and white.

Clemson certainly wasn’t alone on that zigzagging path.

“We’ve been playing him more and more, and he has certainly delivered in a really positive way”, Saban said. “The game is 90 percent mental”.

Clemson might have one-upped Alabama by following up Saturday night with a 31-0 victory over Ohio State, the first time the Buckeyes have been shut out since 1993 and the first time a team coached by Urban Meyer had ever been held off the scoreboard. For Alabama, words aren’t necessary. “They’re going to dance with who brung ’em”.

“It came down to very simple things, and you can’t take those things for granted”, Swinney said. Alabama, Nick Saban’s mighty behemoth and Clemson, the resilient bunch who mirror their personality of their leader, Alabama alumnus Dabo Swinney. The Tigers weren’t going to let Ohio State’s brand impact the game.

Stores downtown Clemson, like the Tiger Sports Shop, are already selling National Championship gear with the final scores from the Fiesta Bowl.

Offensively, quarterback Deshaun Watson, a two-time Heisman finalist who already has said he’s going to declare for the National Football League draft, threw for 259 yards and a touchdown (he did have two picks) and rushed 15 times for 57 yards and two scores.

So perhaps the mind games are a wash this time.

Vividseats also notes that championship games featuring the Crimson Tide have seen a boost in prices. “I mean, we put up some numbers on them last year, but they are even better in a lot of places this year than they were last year”. “But we know Alabama isn’t a pushover”.

Swinney said several factors played a role in Clemson’s sustained success, including health of the players, parity in college football and the improving level of athletes being recruited today. I would definitely expect some better numbers going forward beginning next season. “And I think our guys have a great appreciation for that”.