It was worth it.
Monday’s epic football game between Clemson and Alabama — the first college football championship rematch in the playoff era — was a fitting sequel to the original. Only this time, the Tigers were the ones celebrating after the game.
Clemson star quarterback Deshaun Watson led a furious fourth-quarter comeback as the Tigers dethroned the Crimson Tide, 35-31, in the come-from-behind victory.
The win not only gave Clemson its first title since 1981, but also handed Alabama head coach Nick Saban his first loss in a national championship game. Saban was 5-0 heading into the showdown.
Down 31-28 and with under 10 seconds to play in the game, Watson found wide receiver Hunter Renfrow for the go-ahead 2-yard touchdown to give the Tigers the win.
Hunter Renfrow welcome to history. https://t.co/opLhldYSza
— ESPN CollegeFootball (@ESPNCFB) January 10, 2017
Renfrow, a former walk-on, hauled in a game-high 10 catches for 92 yards and two touchdowns. The sophomore played in the title game last year and also had two touchdowns and was slicing up the Crimson Tide’s secondary all night long.
The game was a rollercoaster with the lead changing hands four times in the fourth quarter. But in the end, Watson would not be denied as he passed for 420 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions.
With the win, the Tigers snapped Alabama’s 26-game winning streak and beat the top-ranked team in the country for the first time in school history.
With the loss, Alabama’s quest to win its fifth championship in the past eight seasons has come to an end.
Alabama running back Bo Scarbrough was the only real playmaker on offense for the Crimson Tide as he had a game-high 93 yards rushing (5.8 yards per carry) and two touchdowns before getting injured in the second half.
Now sit back and enjoy some of the top plays of the game.
Alabama strikes first to take a 7-0 lead over Clemson in the first quarter. #RollTide #nationalchampionship https://t.co/6sarczJO3Z
— Fan Insider (@FanInsider_) January 10, 2017
Bo Scarbrough can't be stopped. #Alabama now up 14-0 in the 2Q. https://t.co/mVsD76tFLi #RollTide #CFBChampionship #NationalChampionship
— Fan Insider (@FanInsider_) January 10, 2017
Deshaun Watson scores as #Clemson cuts the deficit to 14-7. #NationalChampionship #CFBChampionship https://t.co/HnpVR0IOm9
— Fan Insider (@FanInsider_) January 10, 2017
Hunter Renfrow with 24-yard TD catch as Clemson cuts the lead to 17-14 in third quarter #CFBChampionship #ClemvsBama https://t.co/qpWQhinn4K
— Fan Insider (@FanInsider_) January 10, 2017