National Championship, Alabama vs Clemson recap: 3 things we learned
By John Buhler
The Clemson Tigers defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2016 National Championship, 35-31. Here are the three biggest takeaways from this national title bout.
In a rematch of the 2016 National Championship Game, last year’s losers were ultimately victorious, as the No. 3 Clemson Tigers were able to knock off the undefeated No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide on a last-second touchdown pass from Deshaun Watson to Hunter Renfrow.
This is Clemson’s first national championship since 1981. Alabama falls for the first time since its 2015 SEC loss to the rival Ole Miss Rebels. Here are the three biggest takeaways from Clemson’s 35-31 championship victory over Alabama on Monday night at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.
1. Deshaun Watson had an unbelievable statement game before entering the 2017 NFL Draft.
Many people didn’t think he had it in him. Watson threw for over 400 yards and put up multiple touchdowns on the 2015 Alabama defense in defeat in last year’s national championship. It would take another Herculean effort from Watson to give Clemson a chance in this title bout and he absolutely delivered.
Watson completed 36-of-56 passes for 420 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. He even got into the end zone another time on the ground, rushing for 43 yards in total on 21 carries. In the biggest of moments, it was Watson who shined the brightest of any player in college football.
He may have been the runner-up for the 2016 Heisman Trophy, but NFL scouts have to reevaluate their take of Watson. They may not view him as the No. 1 quarterback in his draft class, but that might be a grave error. This guy plays like a champion and now has made himself one. If this national championship didn’t move him up to No. 1 quarterback status in the 2017 draft class, nothing will. We just witnessed greatness.
2. The early conservative Steve Sarkisian game plan cost Alabama dearly.
Alabama head coach Nick Saban had a bold strategy, Cotton. He decided to part ways with former offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin in the week leading up to the 2016 National Championship. Kiffin wasn’t reportedly all-in, as he was about to become the next head coach of the Florida Atlantic Owls.
Saban opted to promote next year’s offensive coordinator in former Washington Huskies and USC Trojans head coach Steve Sarkisian a game earlier than expected. Sarkisian was presumably instructed to go ultra-conservative in play calling with true freshman Jalen Hurts at quarterback.
That worked out okay initially, until running back Bo Scarbrough had to exit the game with an injury. The running game disappeared for large stretches and Hurts had to survive against a ferocious Clemson pass rush.
Alabama punted too much for its own good in this game. The three and outs were too frequent to honestly put Clemson away when the Crimson Tide could have. Sarkisian would damn the torpedoes on Alabama’s final possession with a great trick play and a Hurts 30-yard scamper score. However, vanilla play calling is what did Alabama in more than anything.
3. Dabo Swinney is now an undeniable elite college football head coach.
For years, we’ve had a hard time giving Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney his due. The college football world recognized that Swinney was moving mountains in helping return Clemson to glory. However, he was never seen in the same light as a Saban, an Urban Meyer, or even a Jim Harbaugh or Jimbo Fisher.
Since taking over head coaching duties at Clemson midway through the 2008 season, Swinney has gone 89-28 as head coach. He has won three ACC Championships, five Atlantic Division titles, and now a National Championship.
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The head coaching hierarchy will be appropriately adjusted now that Swinney has won a national tile. He won’t surpass multi-time national champions like Meyer and Saban, but he could be seen as high as No. 3. This is an elite head football coach Clemson has. Swinney will now get national respect that has long evaded him and his ACC powerhouse of a football program.