Power Ranking Top 10 College Football National Championship Games of All Time

His carry totals and the production of those carries was all-time great, so they kept doing it. This was going to be harder come playoff time.

After becoming the unlikely hero for Alabama in its national title win over Clemson, Crimson Tide tight end O.J. Howard won’t have a lot of time to savor the victory, or his role in it, before he has to make a big decision. “We’ve got a bunch of guys coming back next year, and we’ll have a chance to have another heck of a team”. The leadership on this team has been fabulous. In this game Deshaun Watson showed that they had the heart and pride to win it all, unfortunately so did Nick Saban and Alabama.

“I know you can’t do this forever, but I certainly enjoy the moment and certainly look forward to the future challenges that we have and really have no timetable for ever not being part of a team”. The feeling that you get being associated with a group like this makes you want to do it more. Watson threw for four touchdowns and accounted for 478 yards of offense, the Tigers topping the Crimson Tide nearly everywhere but on the scoreboard. Pettway got his hand on Greg Huegel’s 44-yard field goal attempt in the final seconds of the first half, ensuring the game would remain tied at 14 as the teams headed into the locker room.

If the Tide had failed to pick up the first down, it would have likely settled for an Adam Griffith field goal. Catalyzed by the success of the onside kick, ‘Bama would score the go-ahead touchdown just a few plays later and never look back. “Obviously they’ve been a great champion, and again, it was a slugfest out there”, Swinney said.

Up 31-27, Alabama returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown when Kenyan Drake raced 95 yards to put the Tide up 38-27 with 7:31 remaining in the game.

You can see why Clemson fans must feel like they gave the game away.

Hunter Renfrow caught two touchdowns and had 88 yards while Charone Peake led the Tigers with 99 yards receiving, but it wasn’t enough against one of the nation’s top defenses. But other players like Clemson defensive end Kevin Dodd (three sacks) and Alabama tight end O.J. Howard (5 catches, 208 yards, two touchdowns) made their mark as well. With the Tigers focusing on Henry, Howard was left running free several times.

Clemson (14-1) entered the game with the No. 1 ranking and finished at No. 2.

Three plays later, Krenzel snuck it in from a yard out to tie the score and force a second OT. “To me, your value and security as an National Football League player is based on how much they pay you”. Saban reiterated his concern for the health of the bowl system in the playoff era, and the health of the players involved who are now playing up to 15 games. The Tigers return the Heisman front runner in 2016, who as a sophomore became the first player in college football history to pass for 4,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in one season.