The University of Alabama won its fourth national title in the last seven seasons, outlasting the dynamic play of Deshaun Watson and No. 1-ranked Clemson in a 45-40 victory Monday in the College Football Playoff championship game.
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Lancaster-area Clemson football fans, despite a tough 45-40 loss to Alabama in the national championship game, are still high on Tiger pride. But with Alabama nabbing the title, its name is attached to a historic win for the school and its coach, Nick Saban. Bama, however, wouldn’t let that hiccup slow them down as they rattled off 10 straight wins before dominating Michigan State in the Cotton Bowl and putting away a game Clemson team that wouldn’t go away even in the final minutes.
The three-time national champion looked on from the sideline as a guest analyst Monday night as Saban extended his lead over Meyer with another trophy. There was 10:34 showing in the final period and Alabama had just tied the game 24-24 when Saban took a huge gamble and called for an onsides kick.
Griffith said Saban asked him if he wanted to give the onside kick a try.
In a back-and-forth game that featured multiple lead changes and countless momentum swings, we were given a title game for the ages.
Alabama safety Eddie Jackson was the Defensive Player of the Game.
Clemson’s offense matched Alabama’s. Saban will need two more with the Tide to tie Bryant’s mark on campus, but nothing is out of reach for Saban now as the Tide keeps rolling forward. Two plays later, Coker connected with Howard again, this time 51 yards, and Alabama took a 31-24 lead.
Watson gave the Tide all it could handle, throwing for 405 yards and four touchdowns.
The sophomore quarterback, who was third in the Heisman voting, was on point most of the night with his passes.
– The SEC had five – Alabama, Mississippi, LSU, Florida, Tennessee.
Trying to become the first FBS team to go 15-0, Clemson did not crumble under the force of Alabama’s might.
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“Coach Swinney said, there was a few plays that we didn’t really capitalize on, and I missed some throws, we dropped some balls, and just had some missed miscues”, Watson said. His other titles at Alabama came in 2009, 2011 and 2012. Saban will tell you rankings mean little to nothing to him.
