Alabama vs. Clemson: Second verse, better than the first

The way that it’s supposed to go is the sequel to something truly fantastic is never supposed to live up to its predecessor. Last January in Glendale, Arizona, the Clemson Tigers met up with the Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship Game, with Nick Saban and the Tide coming away with their fourth national title in seven years by a score of 45-40 in an instant classic for the ages.

Well as fate would have it, and as many had even predicted following that epic clash last season, the Tide and the Tigers were once again the two best teams in the sport of college football for 2016. After both posted impressive wins in their respective College Football Playoff semifinal matchups, the stage was set for the rematch between the best from the SEC and the best from the ACC.

But there was no way that the most recent edition of this title national title rivalry could live up to the lofty expectations set by the first, right?

Wrong — oh so very, very wrong.

The College Football Playoff National Championship Game on Monday night in Tampa, Florida ended up being everything that we all could have asked for, and then some. And the funny part was, you would have never suspected we were in for one of the greatest title games that we had ever seen with the way the festivities started.

It was literal deja vu from the Peach Bowl, as the human bulldozer that is Alabama running back Bo Scarbrough was toying with the Clemson defense much in the same way that he did with the Washington Huskies a little over a week ago in Atlanta. By 10:42 of the second quarter, Scarbrough had touchdown runs of 25 and 37 yards, and that stout Clemson front looked as if it had no answer for the avalanche in front of them. To many of us watching, we knew what was happening — the rout was on.

The 14-0 Alabama lead early in the second quarter was enough to lead us to believe that we weren’t getting a story near as special here in Tampa as the one that we were treated to out in Glendale. But in reality, this just helped set the stage for Deshaun Watson and company to earn the national title for the Tigers that had eluded them since the 1981 season.

As we’d come to learn by the end of the game, this night belonged to the junior Watson, who was not going to let his team walk off that field glaring at the same sight they did last year — Saban and Alabama adding another chapter to the current dynasty. The Heisman runner-up ran one in from eight yards out before the half to pull to within 14-7.

Okay, now we have something cooking here.

However, the third quarter would bring some folks right back to the near reality that the mighty Crimson Tide could be set to blow the doors off of this one, as they carried a 24-14 lead into the final 15 minutes of action. All this Alabama defense –considered one of the best in this generation– had to do was put together 15 more minutes of dominance and it was smooth sailing to a fifth title in eight years.

Problem was, they were facing one of the best quarterbacks of this generation, and someone who was out for revenge after what took place last season.

Watson did not waver in the fourth quarter with the brightest light shining on him that he has seen in his illustrious career, as he picked apart that vaunted Crimson Tide defensive unit. He also had some help from someone also out to prove a point, wide receiver Mike Williams, who was absent for the classic last year with Alabama. The 6-3 junior went up in the air for two spectacular catches, and he hauled in a four-yard score from Watson to start the rally in the fourth.

The unquestioned two best teams in college football traded blows down the stretch, and the life was sucked out of Clemson fans when it appeared as if true freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts just robbed Deshaun Watson of the thunder that was supposed to be his. Hurts burst through the Clemson defense for a 30-yard run to put the Tide up 31-28 with just 2:07 to go.

No, though, no thunder was stolen from Watson, as all that Hurts score did was set him up to cement his legacy in full as one of the best quarterbacks college football has seen in quite some time.

Watson stared right into the eyes of that punishing Alabama defense and informed informed them that they would sadly not be walking away with the trophy that he feels rightfully belongs to he and the Tigers. Watson led his offense 68 yards down the field in nine plays, and he made sure to give all of college football a lasting image of himself so we never forget his greatness.

And just like that, another instant classic was complete and in this history books for all of college football eternity.

But why was it better?

You absolutely can listen to arguments from some –even non-Alabama faithful– as to why the 45-40 rendition of this war was better than the 35-31 thriller that we saw on Monday. But when it comes down to it, it simply wasn’t.

• Questioning where Alabama goes from here: With the loss on Monday night, as ridiculous as it may be, conversations about the Alabama dynasty being dead are starting to come to the forefront. It’s a tad ridiculous to say the least, but always an entertaining narrative for college football nonetheless.
• Alabama Revenge Tour: To that point, the intelligent folks know that Alabama isn’t going anywhere with the talent they have and the ones they have coming in. This thrilling loss has now started a revenge tour for 2017, which should be quite entertaining to watch as Nick Saban leads the charge.
• Dabo Swinney’s culmination: When Dabo was simply promoted to take over for Tommy Bowden rather than Clemson trying to go out and make a splash hire, the administration was chastised to the high heavens. Well, just take a peek at what he has done, which now includes a national championship.
• Mike Williams: We all wondered what sort of impact the future first-round pick would have had if he took part in the game last year. We saw in the fourth quarter; he’ll use those superior athletic skills to do whatever he has to do to make sure his team won’t die.
• 26-game win streak broken: Alabama lost a game last season to Ole Miss prior to their title matchup with Clemson, whereas this time around they were on the biggest roll in the sport, riding a 26-game win streak. They were considered virtually more unstoppable than they were last year, and this time the Tigers were able slay the giant.
• Deshaun Watson: Again, this young man is one of the best quarterbacks that has ever graced the wonderful sport of college football with his presence. He may have never captured a Heisman for himself –which he probably should have– but he made sure by any means necessary that he leaves the game with something that means more to most — a national championship.
• One second: And finally, the biggest reason this year’s game trumps last years can be summed up in those two simple words signaling a unit of time. When Watson hit Hunter Renfrow with that game-winning touchdown pass, there was just one second left on the clock. One little mistake, one little misjudgment, one little Alabama fingertip on that pass — Clemson is once again walking off the field dejected and left wondering what could have been.

You can probably point to a number of other factors that made this not only better than last year’s clash between the Tide and Tigers, but one of the absolute best college football title games that we have seen in the game’s storied history. But when it comes down to it, those are just some of the main points.

We’re always sad to see the college football season go in early January, but we owe a debt of gratitude to both Alabama and Clemson for sending us out with a bang.