The big plays are what won this game for Alabama. Bad coverage breakdowns really hurt Clemson.
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award, is awarded annually to the most outstanding player in college football. That most certainly was Derrick Henry this year but not tonight. The Clemson defence kept the tigers in the game by shutting down Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry. However Clemson’s defence also gave the game away with two very big breakdowns in the secondary that let O.J. Howard get wide open for very big plays. Special Teams didn’t help Clemson either. Crimson Tide running back Kenyan Drake ran for a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
Alabama and Clemson proved why the playoffs were so important. The two best teams made it to the final game. The back-and-forth tug of war between the two teams was everything you could want from the game. Crimson Tide gave all they had in the tank to win the game 45-40 victory over the hungry Clemson Tigers team. The College Football Playoffs are here to stay. It’s the Crimson Tide’s fourth national championship in only seven seasons. It’s hard enough to get to a hard enough to get to a great bowl game in NCAA football. The Crimson Tide have won the big National Championship game 16 times in school history. Nick Saban accounts for four of those. Only the late great Paul “Bear” Bryant has more by just 2. Look for Nick Saban to go for one more next year with the Crimson Tide. Like the Crimson Tide, The SEC has been dominant as well. This is the SEC’s seven straight National Championship.
Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson had the team on his back but it was not enough. Clemson on the other hand must really hate the College Football Playoffs. They become the only the second team since major classification began in 1937 to start 14-0 and not win a national title.