GLENDALE, Ariz. — He has now won five national titles, staking his claim as arguably the greatest coach of all-time. But Nick Saban has never had to overcome an opponent like this with so much on the line, making all the more impressive what Alabama did Monday night to beat No. 1-ranked Clemson for the College Football Playoff title 45-40.
Frustrated again by a spread offense and a superstar dual-threat quarterback that kept Alabama on its heels most of the night, the Crimson Tide found a deep reserve of guts and guile in the fourth quarter at University of Phoenix Stadium, securing Alabama's fourth championship in the last seven years.
It took two long touchdown plays to rarely targeted tight end O.J. Howard, plenty of special teams magic and dodging daggers from Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson, who accounted for 473 of Clemson's 550 total yards. In no way, shape or form was this the traditional Alabama formula relying on dominant defense and its running game. In fact, Clemson's defensive front was so physically overwhelming that Alabama struggled to protect quarterback Jacob Coker, who was sacked five times, and run the ball in the second half.
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But Saban, whose team had rarely been challenged since losing to Ole Miss in September, made a series of brilliant calls that quickly turned a game seemingly headed toward an epic finish. And Alabama showed both its flexibility and depth of talent, erupting for 24 fourth-quarter points after trailing 24-21.
Alabama tied the game at 24-24 with 10:34 remaining on a 33-yard field goal byAdam Griffith, then surprised everyone with an onside kick that brought a smile out of Saban, a high pooch that was perfectly executed and hauled out of the air by cornerback Marlon Humphrey with no orange jersey even near him.
Two plays later, Coker had Howard an easy, wide-open strike over the middle; his second long touchdown catch of the half against a coverage bust in the Clemson secondary.
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Though Clemson mustered a field goal on the next possession to stay within range, Alabama running back Kenyan Drake took the ensuing kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown with 7:31 remaining for a 38-27 lead. That was just enough breathing room against Watson, who drove Clemson down the field and hit Artavis Scott for a 15-yard touchdown with 4:40 remaining to pull within 38-33.
But instead of relying on its running game to churn clock — it couldn't, as Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry finished with just 30 yards on 16 carries in the second half — the Tide came up with another big play to Howard, who took a swing pass and raced 63 yards down the sideline with 3:45 left, setting up Henry's 1-yard touchdown run with 1:07 remaining. Howard finished with five catches for 208 yards, the first 100-yard receiving game of his career.
He was the difference against Clemson and head coach Dabo Swinney, a son of Alabama and player on the Crimson Tide's 1992 national championship team. Though Swinney's team fought brilliantly all night, it could not overcome the loss of star cornerback Mackensie Alexander, who left the game in the second quarter with a hamstring injury and whose absence was felt as Alabama completed long pass after long pass. Coker finished 16-of-25 for 335 yards and two touchdowns.
Even at that, Alabama had to recover an onside kick after Watson's fourth touchdown pass with 12 seconds remaining before it could celebrate its first championship since 2012.
