THE SKINNY
The national championship is at stake, obviously, but for Alabama it's an opportunity for the Crimson Tide dynasty to reach another new level of unprecedented achievement. Alabama would become the first major college team to win five championships in eight years during the poll era (since 1936). For the second year in a row, the Crimson Tide will have to overcome Clemson, which again is trying to win its first national title since 1981 and check the only box left for a program that has become one of the elite in college football under Tigers coach Dabo Swinney.
KEY MATCHUP
Alabama's offensive line against Clemson's defensive line. Much is made, deservedly so, of the Crimson Tide's talented and tenacious front seven. All-America DL Jonathan Allen leads the way. The Clemson defensive line is packed with future NFL players, too. Freshman Dexter Lawrence is a 340-pound immovable object in the middle, and fellow DT Carlos Watkins is a second-team All-America selection. DE Christian Wilkins has the versatility and athleticism to play inside and out. Redshirt freshman Clelin Ferrell was defensive player of the game against Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl. With a freshman quarterback in Jalen Hurts, the Crimson Tide offensive line must contain Clemson's pass rush (49 sacks on the season) and open holes for RBs Bo Scarbrough and Damien Harris.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Clemson: QB Deshaun Watson. This is kind of obvious, but the Tigers probably can't win unless the Heisman Trophy runner-up plays well, as he did against Alabama in last year's title game. The junior, likely playing his last college game, has thrown for 4,173 yards and 38 touchdowns and run for another eight TDs. He has also thrown 17 interceptions.
Alabama: WR Calvin Ridley. The sophomore receiver has had a relatively quiet season compared his breakout freshman year (67 catches for 733 yards and seven touchdowns). He is capable of great things. Also worth remembering: In last season's title game, Alabama TE O.J. Howard broke free for a career-best 208 yards receiving and two touchdowns.
BY THE NUMBERS
Alabama is attempting to become the third team to go start-to-finish in a season as No. 1 in the Associated Press college football poll, joining Florida State (1999) and Southern California (2004). … Clemson will be looking for its first victory ever against a top-ranked team. … The Crimson Tide has won 16 consecutive games against ranked opponents, matching a record set by USC in the 2000s. … Clemson has 69 victories over the past six seasons. Only Alabama has more with 76. ... Clemson WR Mike Williams, who missed almost all of last season — including the national championship game — because of a neck injury, has 90 catches for 1,267 yards and 10 touchdowns. ... Hurts could become the first freshman QB to lead his team to a national title since Oklahoma's Jamelle Holieway did it in 1985.
One hot ticket
The combination of Alabama and Clemson meeting in a rematch of last year's final, plus the proximity of the schools to Tampa, is causing prices to surge. As of Sunday afternoon, ticket prices on StubHub ranged from $1,599 for a ticket in the upper deck to $17,820 for a sideline seat in the lower bowl of the 70,000 seat stadium. Tuscaloosa, Ala., is 572 miles northwest of Tampa; Clemson, S.C., is 572 miles north.
