Ranking every College Football Playoff team in history

7. Alabama Crimson Tide – 2017

National Runners-up — Lost to Clemson, 35-31

Anyone who tries to question the quality and the merit of the 2016-17 Alabama Crimson Tide simply doesn’t get it. They were clearly one of the most dominant teams in recent college football history and, despite some shortcomings, were able to go toe-to-toe against a historically great Clemson Tigers team and put them on the ropes.

The dirty secret of the National Championship Game from 2017 is that, as a passer, Jalen Hurts actually played quite atrociously. The quarterback completed a mere 13 of his 31 passing attempts on the night for just 131 yards and one touchdowns, though it was a positive that he threw no interceptions. However, he made the biggest play of the game for Nick Saban’s team with his legs.

After seeing the defense allow Deshaun Watson and Clemson, a team of destiny it seemed, to climb back into the lead at 28-24, Hurts drove the Crimson Tide down the field and then called his own number, rushing for a 30-yard touchdown with just over two minutes left in the game. Of course, Watson then drove 68 yards in the time remaining on the next drive for the walk-off touchdown pass to Hunter Renfrow.

As stated, this Alabama team took a Clemson team that is one of the best in the modern era of college football to the very brink and forced them into a situation where they needed magic to get the win. They found that magic, but you can’t knock the Tide too much because of that.