Clemson Beats Alabama in College Football Championship Game Thriller

After three quarters of the college football national championship game in Tampa on January 9th, it looked like the rematch of last year’s game would end up with the same result: an Alabama win over Clemson. The Crimson Tide led 24-14 going into the final quarter. But then the Tigers went to work.

A minute into the quarter, Clemson scored on a Deshaun Watson to Mike Williams four yard TD pass. With 4:38 left, Clemson took the lead for the first time on a one yard TD run by Wayne Gallman. It was 28-24 Clemson. But the Crimson Tide regained the lead on a six play 68 yard drive ending with a 30 yard touchdown run by Jalen Hurts. It was 31-28 Alabama.

Alabama kicked off with 2:07 left; Clemson returned it to the 32. The Tigers stormed back down the field and were at the Alabama two yard line with nine seconds left. Clemson opted to go to the end zone quickly and ideally have time for a game tying field goal attempt if the pass was incomplete. Watson completed a touchdown pass to Hunter Renfro, the QBs third TD pass and second to Renfro, for the game winner with one second left, for a 35-31 final score. Clemson had its second National Championship and first since 1981. Alabama was denied a second straight title.

Watson finished with 36 completions in 56 pass attempts, and three touchdowns with no interceptions. Afterwards, Watson, a Junior, said he’ll be entering the NFL draft a year early. After that performance, his stock is high right now despite missing out on the Heisman Trophy. What a great finish to the college football season.