Clemson Dominates Alabama 44-16 and takes their 2nd title in 3 years.

Coming into this game, both teams were expecting to put up some points and was set up to be a classic. Through a quarter and a half, it was looking like that would be the case. But Clemson turned up the heat and Alabama was unable to keep up with the Tigers as Clemson scored 30 unanswered points at one point in the contest.

Anything that was said in the preview, essentially the opposite ended up a happening. Clemson WR Hunter Renfrow and Alabama RB Joshua Jacobs were two notable players to keep your eyes on. Renfrow had just two catches and Jacobs was barely on the field, as both Damien and Najee Harris got the bulk of the carries. DT Quinnen Williams outside of one TFL was very quiet. DE Clelin Ferrell did come up with a huge TFL on a goal line stand as well as another QB Hurry to keep Alabama off the board in the 4th quarter. This was a game (similar to last year’s National Championship Game), dominated by 2 Freshman. But this time, it was the gentlemen in Orange and White as QB Trevor Lawrence and WR Justyn Ross showed out in a humongous way for the Tigers.

The Route many people weren’t expecting:

After a 3 and out to start the game, Bama and Tua would trot out onto the field. 3 plays in, it would end up being a TD for Clemson as Tua got picked off and taken back by CB A.J Terrell (Clemson 7, Alabama 0). Tua would not be fazed though as on the insuing drive as Tagovailoa would find Biletnikoff award winner, Jerry Jeudy 62 yards to tie things up (Clemson 7, Alabama 7). Lawrence would come back with a 62 yard pitch and catch of his own to Tee Higgins before the drive being capped off with a 17 yard bulldozing run by Travis Etienne. (Clemson 14, Alabama 7). Tua would take the Crimson Tide 75 yards once again, but take much more time off of the clock as they would go 10 plays on 4:12 time and would be finished with a pass to TE Hale Hentges. That would be the last time the Crimson Tide found the end zone the rest of the game. In the Middle of the 2nd quarter.

The Freshman Studs who showed out:

The question coming into this game was if Trevor Lawrence was able to handle the pressure of playing in a National Championship game as a True Freshman. He answered with an emphatic yes as he finished with 347 Yards and 3 Touchdowns. He was able to carve up a defense that was in the Top 15 in Defense and although, isn’t stat studded with NFL talent, is still an above average defense in every category. A big part of the Clemson Passing game was Freshman Justyn Ross. Ross made a statement in this game as a dominant receiver and shows he has some of the best hands in all of College Football. He finished the game with 6 catches, 153 Yards and a Touchdown. One of those catches in which, blew up the internet.

It was a rare game in which Alabama was dominated for most of the contest and the defense got exposed by a extremely talented WR core and Clemson’s DB’s came to play. Players like Trayvon Mullen and Christian Wilkins stepped up and made huge plays for the Tigers. Alabama was able to get quite a bit of offense of their own with 443 Total Yards and 295 from Tua. But the 2 interceptions ended up being very costly and both turned into Clemson TD’s. This doesn’t happen often as prior to this, the biggest loss under Saban since 2008 was 14 (against Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl). Clemson doubled that in the 2019 contest of the National Championship Game. Clemson on top of College Football once again and unfamiliar waters for the Crimson Tide.

Image Credit: https://collegefootballnews.com/2019/01/alabama-vs-clemson-2019-college-football-playoff-national-championship-stream-of-consciousness-game-comments