Ranking every College Football Playoff team in history

SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 07: Adam Choice #26 and Trevor Lawrence #16 of the Clemson Tigers celebrate with the trophy after their teams 44-16 win over the Alabama Crimson Tide in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Levi's Stadium on January 7, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

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11 January 2016: Clemson (4) Deshaun Watson runs the ball for a 2 point, point after attempt, but is tackled short of the goal line by Alabama (90) Jarran Reed during the College Football Playoff National Championship game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Clemson Tigers at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, AZ. Alabama defeated Clemson 45-40. (Photo by Chris Williams/Icon Sportswire) (Photo by Chris Williams/Icon Sportswire/Corbis via Getty Images) /

6. Clemson Tigers – 2016

National Runners-up — Lost to Alabama, 45-40

When it comes to the 2017 Alabama Crimson Tide and the 2016 Clemson Tigers, you’re ultimately splitting hairs in terms of who the greatest National Runner Up in the history of the College Football Playoff is. However, Dabo Swinney’s team gets the edge as they did everything that they possibly could to hang with a juggernaut Alabama team that was absolutely loaded.

In the end, the Tigers lost 45-40 to the Crimson Tide in the title game. Their defense, which had been great for much of the year, gave up a ton of big plays. Jake Coker and O.J. Howard burned them big time for two big touchdowns while Derrick Henry controlled the game on the ground with 36 carries for 158 yards and three touchdowns. Yet, despite all of that, Clemson never went away.

Facing off against one of the best college football defenses that we’ve seen Deshaun Watson gave everything he had to try and knock off the Crimson Tide. He threw for 405 yards and four touchdowns — albeit with one interception — and also rushed for 73 yards. He cemented his legend in this game and only strengthened it from there, culminating in getting revenge over the Tide the following year.

With how well Clemson acquitted themselves in this game, especially against an absolutely loaded Alabama defense, it’s hard not to give them the slight nod over the following year’s Bama team. They were great in their own right and showed every bit of that, even in a losing effort.

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