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Alabama outlasts Clemson to win NCAA football title

On his first touchdown, Howard was so wide open that Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin raised his arms in triumph before the tight end even caught the ball.

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Watson’s play, though, could not make up for Clemson’s mistakes on defense and special teams against Alabama. All of its speed.

The Alabama Crimson Tide has won its fourth National Championship under head coach Nick Saban, as the team beat the Clemson Tigers with a late touchdown to win the game 45-40.

Throughout Alabama’s unprecedented run under Saban, the Tide was hardly challenged in a championship game. “They said no matter what they had to have an opportunity to catch the ball”. With the game tied in the fourth quarter, Alabama successfully recovered an onside kick, then turned a five-point lead to double-digits with Kenyan Drake’s 95-yard touchdown return.

Alabama’s Marlon Humphrey catches an onside kick after Alabama had tied the game during the fourth quarter. I thought we’d do a good job getting to their quarterback. It ended in a 31-yard field goal from Huegel to cut the deficit to four points with under eight minutes left in the action. Clemson (14-1) lost track of the tight end Howard in coverage and Jake Coker hit him in stride deep for a 51-yard touchdown to make it 31-24 with 9:45 left. But Watson kept finding a way to scamper free and get a first down or big gain with his feet. Unfortunately for Watson and the Tigers, it just wasn’t enough.

The Clemson defense was hurt by the loss of cornerback Mackensie Alexander, who limped off the field early after being questionable for the game with a hamstring injury sustained in the Tigers’ victory over Oklahoma on New Year’s Eve.

“There were a few plays that we didn’t really capitalize on”, Watson said. Senior running back Kenyon Drake took the ensuing kickoff and ran it back ninety-six yards for a touchdown – covering the last five years with a diving leap past Tigers’ safety T.J.

In the end, Alabama would salt away the win with help from the Heisman Trophy victor and All-SEC selection Derrick Henry.

“What a year. What a year”, said Clemson coach Dabo Swinney. “This program doesn’t take a backseat to anybody”. Clemson’s Watson pushed his season passing total to 4,104 yards with his 405 against Alabama. However, a last ditch onside kick attempt went out of bounds and the Crimson Tide went into the victory formation to secure the win. Forgettable. It’s a good thing most fans will only remember this capper to the campaign that was 2015, an edge-of-the-seat instant classic that’ll set the national championship standard for future games to chase.

“This team made a tremendous commitment to one another and that is why I am so happy for them”, said coach Nick Saban, who earned his fifth career national title. He called out missed throws and a second quarter interception that ultimately led to an Alabama touchdown. Young’s 467 total yards – 200 rushing, 267 passing – represented a seminal effort for dual-threat QBs and Watson was better. It is the Tide’s 11th national title in the poll era – 10 AP and one coaches’ poll – and more than any other school.

Henry, a junior, rushed for 158 yards in 36 carries.

The Crimson Tide scored 14 of the game’s next 17 points.

“This is the best way to start a semester”, student Joshua Hudak said as the crowd danced in the streets in front of him. Alabama blanked LSU for the next in 2011 and crushed Notre Dame to repeat in 2012. It came with 10:34 left in the game and, combined with Clemson’s nearly desperate emotion, could have capsized Alabama’s hopes and stained Saban’s reputation.

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It was Saban’s toughest championship run during his time in Tuscaloosa. And Saban, the quintessential CEO coach, showed he had a little riverboat gambler in him.

Deshaun Watson No.4 of the Clemson Tigers lies on the turf in the third quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship Game at University of Phoenix Stadium on Tuesday in Glendale Arizona. AFP PHOT