Clemson Upends Alabama On Final Play To Win 2017 National Championship Game

TAMPA, FL – They are signs that people who live in the Tampa Bay area have seen many times around Malfunction Junction: One pointing to Tampa via I-4, the other points to Columbus Drive.

To Clemson Head Coach Dabo Swinney, it was a sign that his Tigers were going to win the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game. The signs mentioned the town where their semifinal opponent, Ohio State, hails and the city where the title game was taking place. It also referenced 4 – the number on the back of junior quarterback Deshaun Watson.

Whether it was fate or the fact that his team found its offense when it counted, Clemson earned its second national championship with a victory over Alabama 35-31 Monday night at Raymond James Stadium. It was Clemson’s first championship since 1981, and the first time the Tigers beat Alabama since 1905.

“It’s a blessing,” Swinny said on the podium after receiving the National Championship trophy. “I love my team. I told them the difference in this game would be the love they have for each other. I knew they wouldn’t quit. I told them always let the light inside of them be brighter than the light shining on them.”

Clemson trailed by double-digits for most of the game until the Tigers came roaring back, led by Watson, who threw for 134 of his 420 yards in the final frame. Watson also threw two of his three touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, and had a big 14-yard scramble at the end of the other scoring drive.

The rematch of last year’s national championship game looked as it was going to be a defensive struggle, with some early-game jitters leading to a shaky first couple of series for both teams. Alabama was up 14-7 at the half in a game that looked like it would stay low-scoring.

On Clemson’s first touchdown drive, Deon Cain, a sophomore wide receiver from Tampa, picked up a 45-yard reception. It was a bit of redemption for the Tampa Bay Tech grad, who was suspended for Clemson’s two playoff games last year.

Alabama still held onto a 24-14 lead when the game turned to Clemson’s favor. Alabama was without its star running back, Bo Scarborough, who left the game in the third quarter with a lower-right leg injury. Scarborough scored both of Bama’s first-half touchdowns, and the Crimson Tide’s offense wasn’t the same after he left.

Oddly enough, Clemson’s two national championship-winning coaches, Swinney and Danny Ford, both played football at Alabama, with Swinney part of the Tide’s 1992 national championship.

“I love the people at Alabama,” Swinney said. “But this is our time.”

Image and video via the ACC Digital Network YouTube channel