Clemson’s only national title came in 1981.
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ESPN’s Megacast presentation of Monday night’s College Football Playoff National Championship Game between Clemson and Alabama delivered a 16.0 overnight rating – the third-best overnight for any game ever, across all sports. All of its power.
Alabama had never been challenged like this in a championship game under Saban.
Watson put up 170 total yards in the fourth quarter while trying to lead Clemson back after two special teams plays gave the Crimson Tide control . He called for a high-bouncing onside kick that Tide defensive Marlon Humphrey caught over the shoulder at midfield. There was no stopping Drake this time as Alabama took a lead it wouldn’t relinquish.
Less than a minute later, Alabama took the lead with an easy pitch and catch touchdown from QB Jake Coker to OJ Howard thanks to broken coverage by the Clemson secondary.
Physically, I thought Clemson could hang with Alabama, and that proved to be the case.
Swinney just concluded his seventh full season as the Tigers head coach and he has posted a 75-27 record. This made it nearly impossible for Clemson to get the momentum back. Another Alabama big play.
After Watson rallied the Tigers to a field goal to answer Howard’s touchdown, it was Kenyan Drake’s turn to make his mark in the national championship.
For much of the night the game was a highlight reel battle between Deshaun Watson of Clemson and Alabama’s Derrick Henry, two of the three Heisman Trophy finalists this season. He even told his kicker, Adam Griffith, before the game that he’d likely attempt an onside kick at some point during the title game.
The Crimson Tide (14-1) won its three previous championship game appearances in runaway fashion.
Alabama joins Notre Dame, which won four titles from 1943-49. Eventually, Alabama was able to take control of the back and forth affair in the fourth quarter, winning their fourth national title in seven years, 45-40 over the Clemson Tigers. It was the unexpected call Saban had to make if he wanted to win a fifth national championship to tie ‘Bama legend Paul “Bear” Bryant. I really, really appreciate our fans. When the Tide once again seemed to break the game open with a 95-yard return touchdown, Watson replied with an eight-play, 75-yard scoring drive of his own. In today’s game, Saban can’t do that, which means those guys he could stockpile end up going to play for another major university that competes against Alabama.
Alabama’s explosive offense was just enough to offset a superb performance from Clemson’s Watson, who showed off not only his passing but also his running game.
Alabama had allowed only 19 points in the opening quarter its first 14 games before giving up two touchdowns to Watson’s Tigers.
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“The one thing I’ve always said is I’ve been a part of a team since I was 9 years old”, the 64-year-old Saban said Tuesday. According to Coach Swinney,”We stand toe-to-toe with everybody in the country”. Watson finished 30-for 44 and 405 yards with four touchdowns.
