Final Top 25: Alabama wins 10th AP national title

Heisman Trophy victor Derrick Henry sprinted away from the Clemson defense on the 50-yard run capping a short three-play drive. All of its speed.

The FSU football account sent out the following tweet to their 175k followers Monday night after Coker and the Crimson Tide won a thrilling game against No. 1 Clemson. This game was an instant classic – a relief for fans who sat through the blowouts that turned the New Year’s Six lineup into a dud. He called for a high-bouncing onside kick that Tide defensive Marlon Humphrey caught over the shoulder at midfield.

“Initially it felt like a dream”, he said after the game, “and I tried to tell everybody to wake me up because I thought it wasn’t real”. The difference, however, was that Clemson made crushing mistakes, and Alabama didn’t.

Nick Saban, who knows a bit about defense, was wise enough to take the game out of Smart’s – and Watson’s – hands with 10:34 remaining. Despite being held to just 45 rushing yards, Gallman converted several key third downs for the Tigers via the catch and run.

A lot of people say, Alabama played their hearts out.

Alabama running back Derrick Henry (2) celebrates with teammate O.J. Howard during the second half Monday. With 12 seconds left, Watson threw yet another touchdown pass to Jordan Leggett to cut the Tide’s lead to five points.

He raced past the kicker and found himself in a footrace with Clemson’s T.J. Green down the left sideline.

The Alabama Crimson Tide brought home their 4th national title in the last seven years last night with a 45-40 defeat of the Clemson Tigers.

In a game marked by huge chunk plays offensively (Alabama had three touchdowns on offense of greater than 50 yards apiece), it was two special teams plays that allowed the Crimson Tide to seize control of the game.

The sophomore quarterback, who was third in the Heisman voting, was on point most of the night with his passes. But Watson couldn’t finish the job the way Young did in Pasadena, California.

Most coaches don’t have the courage to call for an onside kick in a tie game in the fourth quarter of a national championship game when their defense is struggling to stop the other team.

For Clemson, quarterback Deshaun Watson finished the game 30 for 47 passing for 405 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. The position of tight end under Saban has been where talent goes to avoid the spotlight.

Alabama had never been challenged like this in a championship game under Saban. But this time, writes Vint, “with a national championship on the line, Nick Saban finally flipped the script”.

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.

As Howard still tries to wrap his head around a career performance in the biggest game of the season, he must also ponder a future that looks much brighter now.

Cons: Saban will turn 65 in October so the odds of him being a long-term head coach in the National Football League is unlikely. According to Coach Swinney,”We stand toe-to-toe with everybody in the country”.