Alabama, Clemson To Meet In 2016-17 CFP National Championship Game In Tampa

TAMPA, FL – The 2016-17 College Football Playoff National Championship Game will have two familiar faces heading to Raymond James Stadium.

The Alabama Crimson Tide and the Clemson Tigers, who met in last year’s CFP National Championship Game, will meet again in Tampa on Monday, Jan. 9 at 8 p.m.

Clemson, the ACC champion, brings a 12-1 record after shutting out Ohio State 31-0 in the Fiesta Bowl Saturday evening. Clemson has one other national championship in its 120 year history, winning it all in 1981 in the Orange Bowl against Nebraska.

The defending national champion Crimson Tide bring a perfect 14-0 record in to the National Championship Game after beating the fourth-seeded Washington Huskies 24-7 in the Peach Bowl in Atlanta earlier in the day. The SEC champion is looking to earn its fifth national championship in eight years, all with head coach Nick Saban at the helm.

The Tide is also looking for its 17th national championship overall since 1925. They were the second team to win under the new College Football Playoff last season, defeating Clemson 45-40. Ohio State won the first championship the previous year, defeating Oregon 42-20.

The NCAA changed to a four-team playoff two years ago for Division I football. Previously, the Bowl Football Coalition was used to determine the champion and before that, national polls published by various sources determined the winner.

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