Clemson playing for a title, and for history

It is here you saw the strength and speed differential between the two teams.

Saban/retribution. He is at his best when Alabama is coming off disappointment, which was the case in the past two Decembers (losses to Auburn before the 2013 SEC Championship game and Ohio State in the 2014 semis).

Clemson is 3-12 overall against Alabama and has lost the past 12 meetings.

A final between No. 1 Clemson and No. 2 Alabama on January 11 in Glendale, Ariz., feels like one of those playoff deals where lopsided semifinals feel like an acceptable tariff toward big enticement.

Looking back, Saban said, “I think the players learned a lot from what happened in the game past year”.

“I knew that we would be here”, Swinney said.

“The focus that the players had for this game was completely different than we ever had before, and I think it paid off for them”, Saban said late Thursday. Conventional wisdom on beating Alabama was to take away the run and make Coker, the promising Florida State transfer who sat the bench most of last season, win the game. Alabama’s most vulnerable position is in the secondary and there is a good chance Price can find some room to make plays down the middle of the field. Alabama is first nationally in rushing yards allowed, and if the Cotton Bowl was any indication, they are somehow improving.

Alabama looked like a team with no weaknesses against Michigan State.

Ridley was brilliant, streaking by defenders on deep throws and outfighting them on jump balls.

Jones added a high-stepping 57-yard punt return touchdown for the Tide, who hardly even had to use Heisman Trophy victor Derrick Henry. He finished with 75 yards but did score two touchdowns. The Spartans took it inside the Alabama 45 only once in six possessions, with that trip reaching the red zone before an interception.

With their dominating win, the Crimson Tide have a chance to win their fourth national championship in seven years.

In a statement responding to the complaint, Swinney said: “Players of any faith or no faith at all are welcome in our program”.

No. 2 Alabama (13-1) convincingly punched its ticket to the CFP title game by dismantling No. 3 Michigan State 38-0 on New Year’s Eve in the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. He would have gotten the ball more, but when Coker counted nine men in the box on Alabama’s run-pass option plays, the quarterback’s mandate was to throw-usually a bubble screen.

“We’re excited”, Allen said. The game is already approaching quickly as we are only 10 days out from game day. “We’ve got a bunch of fighters on this team that will never give up”.

The Crimson Tide went 82 yards in 10 plays that lasted just over four minutes.

Redshirt freshman Craig Evans, an emerging defensive tackle, was among the MSU players itching to get back to work before leaving Dallas.

“Last year we sort of just participated in the game”, he said. They were totally focused to win this game.

The Tide came out trying to loosen up a Michigan State defense that typically sells out to stop the run. The Spartans offensive line watched video of the 1971 Ali-Frazier fight to prepare.

“It’s like we can’t even enjoy this one”, Venables said after Clemson’s College Football Playoff semifinal victory over Oklahoma. And with Cyrus’s (punt runback by Cyrus Jones) touchdown which kind of broke the game open.

Center Jay Guillermo said he could see a change in the Sooners’ body language after that third quarter drive. It was Alabama at its best and it looked downright terrifying to be on the other end.