The most daring, brilliant, insane call in college football history didn’t win Saban his fifth national title overall, his fourth in seven years at Alabama and No. 16 for the program all by itself. All of its power.
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The Crimson Tide beat the Clemson Tigers by a score of 45 to 40 during the January 11 College Football Playoff national championship held at the University of Phoenix Stadium.
Alabama, which had allowed only 19 first-quarter points all season, gave up 14 to Clemson after the Tide took a 7-0 lead. This game was an instant classic – a welcome relief for fans who sat through the blowouts that turned the New Year’s Six lineup into a dud. The Tigers were up in the fourth quarter until a Griffith chip-shot field goal tied the game at 24, and even then they were expecting to get the ball back in Watson’s trusty hands. “I thought we needed to do something to change the momentum, and that certainly did”, Saban said.
Watson’s play, though, could not make up for Clemson’s mistakes on defense and special teams against Alabama.
After the Tigers converted third-down plays on a pass-interference call and a Watson scramble, Watson lobbed a ideal 31-yard pass into the end zone for Renfrow, who slipped behind defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick to tie the game.
Alabama players hugged each other, and Clemson players didn’t hang their heads as they left the field.
Story of the Game: Big plays. Then came Kenyan Drake, the old Kenyan Drake, catching the kickoff, outrunning his unfortunate wounded past and taking it 95 yards to the house.
The Tigers are back on the biggest stage and again being led by an Alabaman and former Tide player. Henry ran 36 times for 158 yards and three touchdowns, including a 50-yard burst to start the scoring. Watson threw for four touchdowns and accounted for 478 yards of offense, the Tigers topping the Crimson Tide nearly everywhere but on the scoreboard.
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) Clemson will wait until game time to see if top cornerback Mackensie Alexander will play against Alabama. After a disappointing semifinal loss past year, Alabama will be looking to retake the top spot.
Alabama joins Notre Dame, which won four titles from 1943-49.
“I certainly appreciate the fact that he’s stuck here with us and done a really good job so far in trying to finish this year for our players”.
Speaking of which, both of those items will depend heavily on how sophomore QB Deshaun Watson handles the Crimson Tide.
A key play in the drive was Coker’s perfectly arched 26-yard pass to Ardarius Stewart along the sideline that put the ball at the Clemson 18-yard line. The last of Howard’s five catches for 208 yards, his longest on an MVP night with two long-distance scores, went 63 yards to set up Derrick Henry. Watson, who finished with 405 passing yards, completing 30 of 47 attempts with four touchdowns and one interception to go with 73 rushing yards on 20 carries, took Clemson back for a quick score, hitting Artavis Scott for a 15-yard touchdown.
They lost to all these schools in the regular season, SEC Championship game or the National Championship Game.
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Duncan agreed to take a photo on the steps of the U.S. Capitol wearing an Alabama necktie and the trademark houndstooth hat of legendary Alabama coach Bear Bryant if Crimson Tide is victorious.
