Alabama beat the undefeated Clemson 45-40 on Monday night to win the college football National Championship. This is the Crimson Tide's fourth national championship since 2009.
The exciting matchup between the ACC and SEC champions featured a number of big plays and a gutsy onside-kick call and recovery that changed the entire game.
The game was tied at 14 at the half, but the offenses for both teams exploded in the second half.
Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson, who finished with 405 yards passing and 73 yards rushing in the game, helped the Tigers grab a third-quarter lead to the dismay of Alabama head coach Nick Saban.
But Alabama was able to tie the game up early in the fourth quarter and that was when the Crimson Tide decided to run the aforementioned onside kick.
Just two plays later, quarterback Jake Coker, who finished 335 yards passing and two touchdowns, connected with tight end O.J. Howard for a 51-yard touchdown.
A 95-yard kickoff return by Alabama's Kenyan Drake with about seven minutes remaining and a one-yard by running back Derrick Henry with about a minute remaining, destroyed any hopes Clemson had for a fourth-quarter comeback.
This was Saban's fourth National Championship win with Alabama and his fifth overall. And per tradition, he was given the celebratory gatorade shower to finish the night.
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