Final thoughts
Sometimes a fantastic ending can redeem an otherwise disappointing experience. That’s might be the legacy of today’s championship game which provided an entertaining, spectacular finale to a mostly dreadful college football postseason. Alabama/Clemson was exhilarating, and maybe even a little exhausting, and featured a fourth quarter that contained an entire game’s worth of drama. We’ll be signing off now but thanks to everybody who followed along with us at the Guardian today, especially those who contributed. Ciao!
For the fourth time in the last seven seasons, Alabama are national champions. Nick Saban, whose onside kick decision will be noted as the play that turned the game, picks up his 5th national championship, putting him behind only Bear Bryant.
Updated
Alabama win!
Alabama 45-40 Clemson, FINAL
Onside kick time for Clemson. It goes out of bounds, meaning it’s Alabama’s ball which means that this one is done. Jake Coker takes a knee and this is over.
Updated
Meaningless touchdown! (Clemson)
Alabama 45-40 Clemson, :12, 4th quarter
Clemson continue to play, despite the fact that math and the rules of football are against them, because what else is there to do? Watson throws to Leggett for a touchdown that will only mean anything for gamblers. The extra point is good.
TOUCHDOWN! (Alabama)
Alabama 45-33 Clemson, 1:07, 4th quarter
1st & goal. Henry runs to the one yard line. 2nd & goal, Coker tries to sneak it through. No good. Clemson calls a timeout. 3rd & goal... they give it to Henry and it looks like he just gets the ball in.
The officials rule it a touchdown, a review confirmed after a brief review. The extra point is good and this one is basically over.
Updated
Alabama 38-33 Clemson, 2:09, 4th quarter
Coker scrambles 4 yards for the first down! I guess that’s what they were planning during the timeout. Alabama is at the Clemson 3. Clemson calls a timeout.
Alabama 38-33 Clemson, 2:16, 4th quarter
1st & 10 on the Clemson 14, they give the ball to Henry to eat up yards and the clock. He picks up 3 on first down, 4 on 2nd. Alabama is at the Clemson 7 and they use their final timeout.
Alabama 38-33 Clemson, 3:49, 4th quarter
2nd & 12 for Alabama at their own 23, Coker throws to Howard who makes ANOTHER HUGE PLAY, running 63 yards all the way to the Clemson 14!
Alabama 38-33 Clemson, 3:58, 4th quarter
Clemson doesn’t attempt an onside, it’s just a regular kickoff that ends up being a touchback. 1st & 10, Henry gets stuffed for a two yard loss.
On the next play... Alabama uses a timeout.
TOUCHDOWN (Clemson)
Alabama 38-33 Clemson, 4:40, 4th quarter
1st & 10 at the Alabama 26. Watson completes a pass to Ray-Ray McCloud. They’re at the 19 yard line. 2nd & 3, Watson’s throw is incomplete.
3rd & 3, Watson & Brooks combine for a first down. At the 15 yard line, Watson throws a touchdown pass to Artavis Scott!
They need to go for two here to get it within a field goal... but the attempt fails.
Alabama 38-27 Clemson, 5:40, 4th quarter
2nd & 13, Watson throws to Gallman who runs all the way to the Alabama 16. This makes Nick Saban a tad nervous, so he calls a timeout.
Alabama 38-27 Clemson, 6:15, 4th quarter
What a complete special teams breakdown.
The Alabama kickoff ends up being a touchback, Clemson starts at their own 25. Watson tries to run on first down, but gets nowhere. 2nd & 11, Gallman gets the team 14 yards, good for a first down. Watson gets sacked on the very next play, pushed back to the Clemson 35.
Touchdown ! (Alabama)
Alabama 38-27 Clemson, 7:31, 4th quarter
Drake recovers the Clemson kickoff.... 10, 20, 30 yards, 40, 50, 60... ALL THE WAY IN TO THE CLEMSON END ZONE! Stunning. The officials briefly review it, but they quickly confirm it!
The extra point is good! That might be the dagger for Clemson.
Field goal (Clemson)
Alabama 31-27 Clemson, 7:47, 4th quarter
Alabama’s defense holds on though, stopping the Tigers from getting beyond the 14 yard line. They settle for a 31 yard field goal, which is good.
Alabama 31-24 Clemson, 9:19, 4th quarter
WHAT IS GOING ON?
Watson connects with Renfrow for a 24 yard gain. On the very next play, Gallman runs 34 yards to get them all the way to the Alabama 17! In a matter of seconds, Clemson is back in Alabama’s red zone.
Alabama 31-24 Clemson, 9:45, 4th quarter
That took... Wow. That was the most insane successful onside kick call in a big game since the New Orleans Saints pulled one off in the Super Bowl.
Alabama kicks again, but it’s a standard, boring kick that results in a touchback.
TOUCHDOWN! (Alabama)
Alabama 31-24 Clemson, 9:45, 4th quarter
Alabama’s offense is back on the field at the 50 yard line. On 1st & 10, Henry gets stuffed back a yard. On 2nd & 11, Coker throws to Howard who TAKES IT TO THE HOUSE! It’s a 51 yard touchdown run for O.J. Howard! ALABAMA HAS THE LEAD! The extra point is good.
Onside kick! (Alabama recovers)
Alabama 24-24 Clemson, 10:34, 4th quarter
ALABAMA CALL FOR AN ONSIDE KICK AND THEY RECOVER THE BALL! Dabo Swinney is complaining to officials about something, but he doesn’t have a case.
Field goal (Alabama)
Alabama 24-24 Clemson, 10:34, 4th quarter
...So Coker goes to Stewart again for an 38 yard completion!
Alabama is at the Clemson 18. Henry runs for two more yards and then Coker throws two straight incompletions. They’re forced to settle for a field goal, a 33 yard attempt for Griffith.
It’s good! Tie ballgame!
Alabama 21-24 Clemson, 12:05, 4th quarter
Alabama is at their own 20, Coker passes to ArDarius Stewart for a gain of 25 yards. Alabama’s already at their own 45 in a blink. Coker goes back to Henry for a gain of one yard and then a loss of two yards. It’s 3rd & 11...
Alabama 21-24 Clemson, 13:07, 4th quarter
Clemson are at mid-field thanks to JK Scott’s punt. Artavis Scott picks up a first down immediately. Things are going good for Clemson, until Watson fumbles...
He does recover his own fumble, but it sets up a 2nd & 12 situation that Clemson can’t get out. Teasdall’s resulting punt bounces into the endzone for a touchback.
Alabama 21-24 Clemson, 14:55, 4th quarter
I will be honest, when I said “this should be fun” earlier I was lying my butt off. I was convinced this would be another snoozer blowout. It turns out this actually is a really great game. I should lie more often.
Coker tries to target Ridley on 3rd & 3 but the throw’s not on the mark. Fourth down. Enter the punting team.
Alabama 21-24 Clemson, end of the 3rd quarter
Alabama gives Henry the ball on the last two drives of the third quarter, setting up a 3rd & 3 situation at the Alabama 12.
Alabama 21-24 Clemson, :43, 3rd quarter
Alabama’s defense holds Clemson here though, sacking Watson for the first time on 3rd & 8 to force the punting team back on the field.
Teasdall’s punt forces Alabama to start all the way at their 5 yard line.
Alabama 21-24 Clemson, 2:17, 3rd quarter
Scott returns the Other Scott’s punt 10 yards to the Clemson 38. Not bad starting field position for the Tigers. Ray-Ray McCloud, who has the most fun name here, picks up 3 yards. Watson’s 2nd down throw is incomplete but he does connect with Leggett for 10 yards almost to midfield.
Alabama 21-24 Clemson, 2:56, 3rd quarter
Drake returns the Clemson kickoff to the 17 yard line. They’re handing the ball back to Henry again, an acceptable strategy. He picks up 3 yards on first down.
Coker passes to Howard who gets to the 37. 1st down. Henry squeezes out a yard. 2nd down, Coker’s pass is incomplete. 3rd & 9 here, a big big moment here for the Clemson defense.
Coker looks, looks, looks and throws incomplete. The defense got the job done, here comes the punting.
TOUCHDOWN (Clemson)
Alabama 21-24 Clemson, 4:48, 3rd quarter
Remember when I said that Clemson would need a Vince Young championship game performance tonight from Watson? Well...
Watson gets to the 1 on 1st down. Second and goal. He hands it to Gallman... can’t get through the Alabama defense. But on 3rd & 2, Gallman JUST breaks the plane for the touchdown. The extra point is good!
Clemson has regained the lead!
Alabama 21-17 Clemson, 6:19, 3rd quarter
A false start on Clemson pushes them back to the 34. It doesn’t matter, Watson runs for 16 yards on the next play. On the Alabama 18 now, Watson throws to Peake, picking up 4 yards.
2nd & 6, Watson and Gallman connect this time for 8 yards, they’re at the Alabama 6.
Oh thank god Clemson takes a timeout here to give me a second to breathe.
Alabama 21-17 Clemson, 7:30, 3rd quarter
Watson takes the ball himself on first down, faking out the Alabama defense, running for 20 yards. He’s at the Alabama 40 for the next play, where he throws to Leggett for a 11 yard gain.
At the Alabama 29, Watson almost connects with another touchdown with Renfrow, but Fitzpatrick manages to swat it away.
Alabama 21-17 Clemson, 8:26, 3rd quarter
On 2nd & 17, Henry picks up two yards. 3rd & 15, Henry runs fora few more yards but it’s not enough. And there was an offensive penalty as well. Clemson is forced to punt.
JK Scott’s punt is returned by Artavis Scott, which is vaguely confusing, who takes it 13 yards to the Clemson 40.
Alabama 21-17 Clemson, 10:00, 3rd quarter
Kevin Dodd sacks Coker again, a loss of six yards. There’s a flag on the play but it’s on the offense, so Clemson is going to decline.
Alabama 21-17 Clemson, 10:10, 3rd quarter
Drake receives the Clemson kickoff and is brought down on the 26, where Alabama will start their next drive.
Field goal (Clemson)
Alabama 21-17 Clemson, 10:10, 3rd quarter
1st & 10 at the Alabama 40, Watson scrambles for 4 yards. On the next play, defensive pass interference gifts Clemson a first down and places them at the Alabama 21.
Watson runs for a yard. On 2nd & 9, his would-be touchdown pass is broken up by Minkah Fitzpatrick. It looks like Watson makes a touchdown throw to Scott, but Ronnie Harrison knocks it out of his hands at the last second.
Clemson is forced to settle for a field goal. At least they make it this time.
Alabama 21-14 Clemson, 11:32, 3rd quarter
A touchback will put Clemson on their 25. Artavis Scott almost gets the first down on 1st & 10 and then Gallman gets to the 38. First down.
Nada for Gallman on his next run. 2nd & 10, Watson throws to Brooks who gets 22 yards and breaks through midfield.
Alabama 21-14 Clemson, 12:53, 3rd quarter
So missed field goal, a 3 & out and an allowed touchdown. Clemson is.... Clemsoning?
TOUCHDOWN! (Alabama)
Alabama 21-14 Clemson, 12:53, 3rd quarter
The Clemson punt puts Alabama at their own 36. The Clemson defense will have to be without Mackensie Alexander, who has been ruled out for the rest of the game.
Henry goes 4 yards. Coker connects with Drake for a first down. 1st & 10 at the Alabama 47 and Coker throws to O.J. Howard who takes advantage of a busted Clemson coverage to take it all the way into the endzone for a touchdown!
The extra point is good! The Tide is rising!
We're back!
Alabama 14-14 Clemson, 13:54, 3rd quarter
Scott returns the Alabama kickoff 16 yards to the Clemson 23. On 1st & 10, Gallman runs for a two yard loss. 2nd & 12, Watson hits Renfrow for 9 yards. On 3rd & 3, Watson’s throw... doesn’t find its mark. A 3 & out, so much for that “getting the ball back” advantage.
Deshaun Watson: 6 first downs (pass or rush) on scrambles, 3 more than he has had in any other game in his career. pic.twitter.com/M6MU7e7hEV
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 12, 2016
Okay, maybe the Alabama defense could be doing a *slightly* better job on Watson, I will admit.
I’ll also use this pause in the action to remind everyone that I’m taking comments, questions and what-not throughout this liveblog. You can email them to Hunter.Felt@theguardian.com or tweet them to @HunterFelt.
A lot has gone on since, but the Derrick Henry 50 yard touchdown run remains the most exciting play of the game so far.
Alabama puts the points on the board first. Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry breaks away for a 50-yard TD run. https://t.co/qLX5UyNPoH
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) January 12, 2016
Email from Paul Szabo:
So it really is true that there is no defense in college football?
This was from a half-hour ago, where it look like this was going to be an offensive slugfest. Obviously, we’re seeing a better showing by both team’s defenses now. Clemson, in particular, has been forcing negative yardage at key points.
Updated
Halftime!
This has been a fun one, can’t help but think that no matter which teams wins, the other team’s missed field goal attempt is going to be a factor.
Missed field goal (Clemson)
Alabama 14-14 Clemson, end of the 1st half
3rd & 18, Coker throws to Calvin Ridley for a gain of 5 yards. Alabama punts, which means Clemson gets a chance here to see if it can score before halftime and then get the ball back at the start of the second half.
Scott makes a fair catch at the Clemson 34. Watson is throwing here, needing to make up a lot of ground really quick, and he finds Peake who brings the ball all the way to the Alabama 39.
Clemson takes a second timeout.
Coming out, Brooks gets two yards. Clemson uses their final timeout. When they come out, they set up a 44 yard field goal attempt for Huegel, who misses it!
Alabama gets the ball back, but there’s not enough time to do anything with it and the first half ends.
Updated
Alabama 14-14 Clemson, :55, 2nd quarter
Clemson’s punt goes out of bounds at the 24. On 1st & 10, Dodd pummels Coker for yet another sack, a loss of 9 yards. 2nd & 19 at their own 15. Henry gets the ball next and picks up... maybe a yard?
Clemson takes their first timeout.
Alabama 14-14 Clemson, 1:52, 2nd quarter
1st & 10, Watson’s throw is incomplete. 2nd & 10, Watson throws to Scott for a 12 yard gain. They’re at their own 43.
A penalty nullifies a big gain for Clemson and then Alabama stuffs Gallman for a loss twice in a row. It’s 3rd & 23 and Watson runs... for a slight loss. They will have to punt.
Alabama takes their final timeout of the half.
Alabama 14-14 Clemson, 3:53, 2nd quarter
Scott makes a fair catch of Alabama’s punt on the 18 yard line. On 1st & 10, Zac Brooks picks up 4 yards. Watson runs himself on 2nd & 6, making it all the way to their own 31.
Alabama 14-14 Clemson, 4:25, 2nd quarter
On 1st & 10, Henry picks up 5 yards. 2nd & 5, OOF, there’s Shaq Lawson again, sacking Coker for a 5 yard loss. On 3rd & 10, Coker can only pick up 8 yards.
Great job there by the Clemson defense, doing just enough to stop Alabama.
Alabama 14-14 Clemson, 6:30, 2nd quarter
Whistle blows again. Action will resume without Alexander. Derrick Henry nearly gets to the first down. On 3rd & 1, Henry pushes his way to the 22 yard line, more than enough for a fresh set of downs.
Alabama 14-14 Clemson, 7:48, 2nd quarter
Andy Teasdall’s punt puts Alabama to their own 10 yard line. Derrick Henry runs for 3 yards on first down.
And there’s a whistle, an injury on the field. It’s Clemson cornerback Mackensie Alexander, who was already nursing a hamstring injury, and he’s holding his leg in pain.
Alabama 14-14 Clemson, 7:55, 2nd quarter
3 & out for Clemson on the next possession. Exactly what they didn’t want after that brutal turnover.
Alabama 14-14 Clemson, 9:35, 2nd quarter
This is already a better game than at least three of the NFL playoff games that took place this weekend.
TOUCHDOWN! (Alabama)
Alabama 14-14 Clemson, 9:35, 2nd quarter
It’s 1st & 10 at the Clemson 12. Henry picks up 3 yards. Alabama’s at the Clemson 9. This game is going to be tied again soon and you can really hear the Alabama fans in the stands. Coker throws a wayward pass to Calvin Ridley. It’s 3rd & 7.
Then Drake gets it all the way to the one-yard line. 1st & goal for Alabama, Coker hands it to Henry who pushes way in for a touchdown. The extra point ties things up.
Alabama 7-14 Clemson, 11:08, 2nd quarter
Alabama take over at the Clemson 42. Drake picks up 6 difficult yards to take them to the 36. On 2nd & 4, Henry picks up 12 yards and, thanks to a Clemson facemask, they pick up another 12 yards to put them into the Clemson red zone.
Alabama take their second timeout.
Interception (Alabama)
Alabama 7-14 Clemson, 11:58, 2nd quarter
Clemson starts at their own 17 after the punt. On 1st & 10, Watson runs for 7 yards.
Then DISASTER STRIKES FOR CLEMSON, Watson’s pass is intercepted by Eddie Jackson! Alabama ball!
Alabama 7-14 Clemson, 13:05, 2nd quarter
Long time blog contributor Roger Kirkby pops in:
About time you started a Hunters all star team, by the way you can get the game on radio at “102.5 the game” that’s where I found it.
Hunter Renfrow, Hunter Pence... I know I must be missing other Hunters in sports here.
Alabama 7-14 Clemson, 13:05, 2nd quarter
Greg Huegel’s kickoff results in a touchback. A suddenly on the ropes Alabama starts at their own 25 yard line. They don’t stay there for long. Coker lofts a pass to Richard Mullaney who gets to the Clemson 46.
1st & 10, Henry runs... for a loss. Pushed back to midfield. 2nd & 14, Kevin Dodd sacks Coker for a loss of 4 yards. Oof, the Clemson defense has stepped up here.
Alabama can’t gain anything on 3rd & 18 and here comes the punting.
Updated
TOUCHDOWN (Clemson)
Alabama 7-14 Clemson, end of the 1st quarter
Clemson start off on their own 27 after the missed field goal. Watson runs 11 yards for a first down. 1st & 10, Gallman picks up 6 yards.
Watson finds Charone Peake for a 24 yard gain. And then Jordan Leggett for 20 yards. Clemson is at the Alabama 12.
1st & 10, Watson runs for one yard. 2nd & 9, Watson tries to make magic again, throwing to Renfrow, but it’s incomplete. The next time, however, they very very very much make magic again. Renfrow hauls in Watson’s catch in the end zone for a touchdown!
And the extra point is good! What an end to a very busy, very fun first quarter.
Field Goal Attempt (No Good) (Alabama)
Alabama 7-7 Clemson, 2:09, 1st quarter
2nd & 16, Coker’s throw is incomplete. 3rd & 16, Henry picks up an extra eight yards. The field goal unit comes on the field.
It’s a 44 yard field goal attempt by Adam Griffith and it’s.. NO GOOD. We’re still tied!
Alabama 7-7 Clemson, 3:30, 1st quarter
1st & 10 Alabama decides to th- Nah. They hand off to Henry who gets 7 yards. He gets nothing on 2nd & 3, so this time Coker actually does throw, targeting O.J. Howard for a 25 yard gain to the Clemson 29.
Lawson sacks Coker for a loss of 6 yards on the next play and Alabama takes a timeout to get the next play right.
Alabama 7-7 Clemson, 5:18, 1st quarter
So we’ve seen both Heisman finalists at their best in the past two drives. This could end up being a good one. (Also, I’m for any Hunters being successful at anything.)
Whoa. A huge kickoff return from Kenyan Drake who takes it from the end zone all the way to the Alabama 39, where they will start.
TOUCHDOWN (Clemson)
Alabama 7-7 Clemson, 5:18, 1st quarter
Clemson are at the Alabama 43. Watson runs for 5, Gallman runs for an extra yard, Watson picks up the first down by his lonesome. They’re going no huddle again.
And at the Alabama 31, Watson throws deep to Renfrow for a 31 yard touchdown pass! The extra point is good AND WE’RE TIED UP JUST LIKE THAT
Alabama 7-0 Clemson, 6:46, 1st quarter
1st & 10, Watson finds Hunter Renfrow (I’m rooting for him for obvious reasons) for 5 yards. 2nd & 5, Gallman’s run goes nowhere. On 3rd & 5, there’s pass interference on Alabama which gives Clemson a first down.
Alabama 7-0 Clemson, 7:35, 1st quarter
Henry looks winded after that run and I don’t blame him. It was exhausting just to watch. Scott is here to return the Alabama kickoff... and takes it 43 yards right to the Clemson 46. Wow.
Updated
TOUCHDOWN! (Alabama)
Alabama 7-0 Clemson, 7:55, 1st quarter
Henry runs, picks up two yards. 2nd & 8. Oh there’s another burst from Henry, who Alabama is clearly leaning on heavily for obvious reasons, who then runs for 8 yards.
On 3rd & 1, OH MY GOD THERE HE GOES. Henry takes it 50 yards all the way to the end zone! TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA! The extra point is good and we have our first score of the game!
Alabama 0-0 Clemson, 8:50, 1st quarter
Clemson gets as far as their own 35 before their opening drive stalls. Their punting unit takes the field. Cyrus Jones returns Andy Teasdall’s punt 12 yards to the Alabama 41 where they will start their second drive of the game. Solid starting position here.
Alabama 0-0 Clemson, 9:50, 1st quarter
Watson passes to Artavis Scott, oh man they’re going no huddle too aren’t they, Scott picks up 3 yards. Running back Wayne Gallman makes up the remainder to pick up a first down.
1st & 10, Watson’s pass is incomplete. 2nd & 10, Gallman runs... but for no gain. On 3rd & 10, on there’s Watson’s first play of the game, a 13 yard completion to Jordan Leggett.
Alabama 0-0 Clemson, 11:06, 1st quarter
JK Scott punts, pinning Clemson at their own 9 yard line.
Email from Ralph Hood:
Is the game itself really going to be live on the internet? If so--how in the world do I get to it?
There’s several different ways of watching it on WatchESPN.com, from what I understand, although I do believe they require a cable provider password.
Alabama 0-0 Clemson, 11:06, 1st quarter
The drive stalls at the Alabama 48 however, bringing in the punting unit.
Alabama 0-0 Clemson, 12:50, 1st quarter
Alabama are at their own 34. Coker passes incomplete. Henry only gets one yard on 2nd down, but on 3rd & 9 he makes up for the difference getting the ball to the 44, good for a first down. They’re going super-super fast in no huddle here.
Alabama 0-0 Clemson, 13:36, 1st quarter
Alabama will start at their own 21 after the kickoff. 1st & 10, Alabama QB Jake Coker’s pass is incomplete. 2nd & 10, Clemson’s Shaq Lawson gets hit with an offsides penalty to make it 2nd & 5. This gives Derrick Henry two chances to make a first down.
Updated
Coin toss
Clemson win the coin toss and they decide to defer. Good choice Clemson.
National Anthem
Ciara does a perfectly acceptable version of the Star Spangled Banner. 6/10.
So many screens...
whee pic.twitter.com/y8BAHH86x5
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) January 12, 2016
Alabama and Clemson take the field! We’re getting close to game time!
Gotta love ESPN filming Nick Saban’s arrival like the president coming off of Air Force 1.
Bama has arrived. https://t.co/l7qsikgVI7
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 11, 2016
How many different broadcasts are there available for tonight’s game? Well, Awful Announcing has a complete list. Among the countless variations are a “Sounds of the Game” broadcast without announcers, “Homer” broadcasts that will include local radio announcer feeds and shots of certain coaches and players and a “Student Section” feed for those people looking to ruin college kids lives by turning their emotional reactions into cruel internet memes.
Discarded alternate names for the College Football Playoff National Championship had to have been like “Football Game Between Two Best Teams In College Football Football Game” or “NCAA Division I Postseason Playoff Championship Football College Bowl Game.” That’s the only explanation for how the NCAA ended up choosing such a bland name.
Predictions
I want to believe that Clemson will win. I want to believe that “Clemsoning” will no longer be a synonym for “wilting at the worst possible moment.” I want to believe Watson will be able to get the best of this tough Alabama defense.
I just can’t do it. I can’t pick against Alabama in this context. I’ve been burned too often by voting with my heart and not my head. I’m guessing a relatively low scoring affair, Alabama 17-10 Clemson. Your predictions? Tweet them to @HunterFelt or email them to Hunter.Felt@theguardian.com.
Note to the approximately 346 different broadcasts of this game: Considering today’s events, if one of you doesn’t use this song at some point when Alabama is on the screen, then you have failed us all.
Nick Saban
Currently, Nick Saban has four championships to his credit, three with Alabama and one with LSU. If he were to get his fifth with a win today, he would be second only to the legendary Bear Bryant. Oh yeah and also it would be his 100th win as coach of Alabama. In other words, kind of a big deal for him.
Nick Saban is 1 win away from joining Bear Bryant as the only coach to win at least 5 titles in the major poll era. pic.twitter.com/MiNi89ySoT
— #SECNation (@SECNetwork) January 11, 2016
Maybe we in the media should relax a bit department:
Sure is an interesting handegg game tonight, I hope we aren't placing undue importance on the outco-- pic.twitter.com/0QPM1rr2gY
— Mike Petriello (@mike_petriello) January 12, 2016
Preamble
Hello all, welcome to the Guardian’s coverage of the College Football Playoff National Championship between No1 Clemson and No2 Alabama. Hopefully today’s game to determine the best team in college football will be a little bit more competitive than the two blowouts you saw on New Year’s Eve (assuming you were among the reduced number of sports fans who watched the semi-finals). Clemson, which hasn’t lost a game this season, defeated Oklahoma 37-17. Meanwhile Alabama who went 13-1 during the regular season, their one loss was to Ole Miss back in September, utterly destroyed Michigan State, winning by the final score of 38-0.
Theoretically, the Clemson Tigers should be favored here but, as Brandon Lilly explains, that’s not the case, mostly because it’s difficult to bet against Nick Saban’s Alabama team:
This isn’t necessarily David versus Goliath, but it is Goliath versus someone significantly smaller and less accomplished. Clemson have won only one national title in their history and over the last few years the Tigers have become synonymous with underachievement.
Under Saban, the Crimson Tide won in 2009, 2011 and 2012 and have arguably established themselves as the premiere college football program in the country. It also doesn’t hurt that they have the reigning Heisman Award winner in running back Derrick Henry.
Dabo Swinney’s Clemson Tigers, however, definitely have a chance at a victory here, especially if quarterback Deshaun Watson, who placed third in the Heisman voting, can pull off a dominant, Vince Young-like performance. Alabama can’t go into this game expecting anything resembling a 38 point blowout win. This will be their biggest challenge, which is exactly what the championship game should have always been: the best two teams in a winner takes all game.
So, in the next few hours, we will either see Saban’s Alabama essentially cement their reputation as one of the greatest college football programs of all time or the Clemson Tigers pulling off their greatest victory in team history. It should be fun, and you can join in on it by sending us your questions, comments, smack talk etc for use throughout this liveblog. You can either email hunter.felt@theguardian.com or tweet @HunterFelt. It’s Clemson vs Alabama in college football’s (unimaginatively named) championship game! Kickoff is scheduled at 8:30pm EST, but we’ll be back well before that with predictions, updates and other assorted nonsense well before then.
Hunter will be here shortly.
.png?w=600)
