FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — It is how it was intended to be.
Whatever qualms anyone has about No. 1 Alabama (14-0) and No. 2 Clemson (14-0) meeting in the national championship game for the third time in four years — Jan. 7 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. — it is clear the two best teams in the country will be battling for the title.
In Saturday’s semifinals, Clemson destroyed previously unbeaten Notre Dame 30-3 in the Cotton Bowl, and Alabama scored the first 28 points of the Orange Bowl en route to a convincing 45-34 win over Oklahoma, setting up a fourth straight playoff showdown between the Tigers and defending champion Crimson Tide — last year was in the semifinals.
“Every single year it seems to be us and them to battle it out in the end,” Alabama senior center Ross Pierschbacher said. “All four [years] have been against these guys. It’s crazy.”
Except it isn’t.
Each team has championship experience. Each team has future first-round picks. Each team’s offense and defense ranks in the top 10 in the nation.
It will be the first matchup of undefeated teams in the national title game in eight years and will crown the first undefeated champion of the playoff era.
Here are some notable storylines to follow heading into the national championship:
Another classic?
While Alabama cruised to a 24-6 win in last season’s semifinal meeting, their two title games rank among the greatest of all time. Three years ago, the Crimson Tide pulled out a 45-40 win, highlighted by Nick Saban’s call for an onside kick in a tie game early in the fourth quarter. Deshaun Watson got revenge the next year, finding current fifth-year senior Hunter Renfrow for a last-second touchdown, giving Clemson a 35-31 win and its first national championship since 1981.
A familiar favorite
The country’s perception of Clemson has changed in four years. Vegas’ hasn’t. Alabama is listed as a 6½-point favorite over Clemson, mirroring the spread of the previous two title-game matchups between the teams. Since the 2009 SEC title game, Alabama has been an underdog only once — blowing out Georgia as a 1-point underdog in 2015.
The stakes on the sidelines
Nick Saban is searching for a record seventh national championship — also a sixth national title in 10 years and second repeat — which would break a tie with Alabama legend Paul “Bear” Bryant. Saban is 6-1 all-time in national title games, suffering his only loss to Clemson coach Dabo Swinney. With another upset, Swinney — an Alabama native and former Crimson Tide wide receiver — would join Saban as the only active coaches with multiple national championships, following Urban Meyer’s retirement.
Fresh faces
What better way to reinvigorate this rivalry than with change at the most important position? During last season’s matchup, Tua Tagovailoa was still a backup, and Trevor Lawrence was still in high school. While Tagovailoa won a national championship as a freshman in relief, Lawrence could become the first true freshman starting quarterback to lead his team to a title since 1985 (Jamelle Holieway, Oklahoma). The future first-round picks will be the Heisman favorites next season, making Part V a strong possibility.
Battle in the trenches
Alabama had the second-highest scoring offense in the nation (47.9) this season. Clemson had the nation’s second-best scoring defense (13.7). The success all starts up front, with the Tigers featuring an all-time defensive line and the Crimson Tide’s offensive line among the nation’s best. Of the many intriguing battles, none stands out more than Alabama left tackle Jonah Williams taking on Clemson defensive end Clelin Ferrell. Williams hasn’t allowed a sack all year. Ferrell has 10. Both could be off the board by the sixth pick of the next NFL draft.
The kicking game
Once again, the game could be decided in the final quarter. Perhaps, again, in the final seconds. If the title comes down to a kick, neither team will be too confident. Alabama, which needed overtime to top Georgia after missing a last-second field goal in last year’s title game, features freshman Joseph Bulovas, who missed five extra points this season. Clemson senior Greg Huegel has hit 6 of 10 field goals in his playoff career and made 10 of 15 this season.