Nick Saban: Clemson presents biggest test for Alabama

Alabama is the early favorite to win the college football championship game, but as fans are well aware, anything is possible.

He was on that great 1992/93 team that won “the natty”, as Swinney called it after the Tiger’s win over Oklahoma in the national semifinals last week. In their semifinals, the Clemson and Alabama families won their respective second halves by 21-0 and 28-0.

I believe strong line play and the overall athletic ability of the defenses had a lot to do with why the league bounced back from last year’s disappointing showing in the bowl season. He’s also been responsible for 43 touchdowns on the season. And this week, on the eve of Alabama playing for its fourth national championship in seven years, it’s not a pretty picture.

“I think as it should be, this is a game that two great teams are going to have a great opportunity to compete in, and it’s something that we’re certainly looking forward to and pleased that we’ve created the opportunity for ourselves to do that”. Serving at first on an interim basis, he got the job permanently after leading Clemson to bowl eligibility.

Meanwhile, in Las Vegas, Nevada, an unlikely group of people are also going to be living and dying with every play and empathizing with the folks rooting for Clemson – Las Vegas’ bookies. No offense to the Dak Prescotts and Chad Kellys of the world, but Watson is far and away the best quarterback Alabama will have faced this season.

Clemson can’t win if they don’t run the ball effectively. The Tigers will need Deshaun Watson to be creative and extend plays when the pass protection breaks down. Alabama didn’t disclose the reason that Brown was sent home, but clearly, to the team, he had become a distraction. The only program since 2009 to finish with a rushing defense average below 75 yards is Alabama itself, in 2011. Cornerback Mackensie Alexander will be responsible for slowing down Calvin Ridley, and he has proved himself capable.

These were Clemson’s most noticeable matchup advantages in the Orange Bowl.

The Tigers biggest regular season win – a two point victory over Notre Dame – was aided by monsoon-like conditions that resulted in a +3 turnover margin.

“The practices here were so much better than they were previous year”, defensive coordinator Kirby Smart said. Greg Huegel has booted through 25 field goals on 29 attempts with a long of 47 yards.

No. 2 Alabama held the Spartans to a season-low 239 yards as linebacker Reggie Ragland and defensive end Jonathan Allen had their way Michigan State’s offensive line, combining for four sacks and six tackles for loss. On the other side, Clemson could pick up a few points on a possession that stalls out inside the Alabama 40. “By gosh, they’ve got to print a 15th ticket to see the Tigers now”. Cyrus Jones is a deadly return man, and Clemson’s punt team will have a tall task keeping him in check. Once the defense begins sucking wind a little, I expect Kiffen and Saban to start pounding Derrick Henry straight into the exhausted defenders. Classes for the spring semester resume at Clemson on Wednesday, January 6. “Really as fine a dual-threat quarterback as we’ve played against for long, long time”.

Swinney was part of Alabama’s 1992 national championship team that defeated Miami 34-13 in the Sugar Bowl and, afterward, worked as an assistant at Alabama under Stallings and Mike DuBose, recruiting Watts’ son Tyler Watts to Alabama as a quarterback.