College Football Playoff: Alabama facing toughest title opponent of Saban era

The 2015-16 College Football Playoff is about to culminate with a game that could be Alabama’s toughest national title opponent of the Nick Saban era, the Clemson Tigers.

Since Nick Saban came to Alabama in 2007, the Crimson Tide have racked up six SEC West titles, four conference championships, and three national championships. At times during this run of titles, it looked as if the Alabama was facing token resistance, but the upcoming national title game against Clemson may be their toughest challenge for a title under Saban.

Of course, there was that hiccup against Ohio State in last year’s playoffs, but that’s a story for another day (and it wasn’t for a title).

The SEC West has seldom proven to be much of a contest under Saban, and when his team has advanced to the SEC title game, they’ve only lost once (his first season on the job). The only time the Crimson Tide were challenged in an SEC title game they won was in 2012, when Georgia game just short up upsetting the heavily favored Tide.

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In national title games, Alabama has decidedly run away with all three contests – beating Texas 37-21 in 2009, blanking LSU 21-0 in 2011, and destroying Notre Dame 42-14 in 2012. If Alabama fans think this year’s national championship game will be just as easy, they might want to do a little research about the team they’ll be facing.

In the past, Alabama has been matched up against teams who were similar in style and/or they were simply better than in every facet of the game. Few teams have been able to withstand Saban’s aggressive defenses and his use of relentlessly pounding running backs. Those two factors proved to be the difference against a very similar Michigan State team in this year’s national semifinal.

Well don’t look now, Tide…here comes Clemson and the ultra-hyper Dabo Swinney.

If you look at the Tigers and the Tide, you have two teams (and coaches) who couldn’t be more different. While Alabama will undoubtedly stick to the script of fierce defense, strong running, and a traditional vertical passing game, Clemson goes about their business in a much different fashion – certainly more varied than anything Bama has seen this season.

For starters, Clemson loves to throw the ball around. They finished 26th in the nation in passing offense, going for 283 yards per game. While that might not seem like a hair-raising stat, it takes on a lot more meaning when you combine it with the fact that quarterback Deshaun Watson rushed for 1082 yards himself at a clip of 74 yards per game.

The last time Alabama faced a quarterback with an arm like Watson’s? Try Ole Miss and Chad Kelly…the last time Alabama ended up on the losing end of a game.

I’ll take “Teams Who Could Upset Alabama” for $500, Alex.

If Nick Saban’s teams have had an Achilles heel, it’s been defending spread offenses that rely on speed and a true dual-threat quarterback. Ohio State used that formula to come back from a 21-6 deficit against Alabama in last year’s playoff game, and Clemson might be even better than that Buckeye team.

But the one thing few are discussing about this game is the underrated Clemson defense. While it’s well known that Alabama’s defense has been probably the best in the nation this season, Clemson has quietly put together an impressive campaign on that side of the ball as well.

The Tigers finished 16th in scoring defense (20 ppg), 18th in rushing defense (124 ypg), 9th in passing defense (177 ypg), and 6th in total defense (301 ypg). If those numbers aren’t impressive enough, they also were tops in the nation in tackles for loss, and finished 2nd in the nation in 3rd down conversions allowed, holding opponents to 25 percent of their attempts.

college football playoff Dec 31, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Derrick Henry (2) runs with the ball against Michigan State Spartans linebacker Darien Harris (45) in the third quarter in the 2015 CFP semifinal at the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Clemson will have to keep Alabama Crimson Tide running back Derrick Henry from breaking off big runs. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /

This is not a defense to take lightly. They may not have the most recognizable names, but they are (much like the entire Clemson team) a cohesive unit that feeds off each other.

Does all this mean Clemson can beat Alabama? Absolutely. They have a better shot of being the first team to defeat the Tide in a national title game during the Saban era than any opponent thus far, but that doesn’t mean it will be an easy task.

Clemson has a crack in the armor of their own which Saban will want to exploit as much as possible, and he has the perfect horse to do it.

The Tigers have been susceptible to giving up long rushing plays all season. They allowed 62 rushes of over 10 yards this season, 22 of over 20 yards, 10 of over 30 yards, 8 of over 40 yards and 4 of over 50 yards. It’s those big plays which nearly cost the Tigers their undefeated season a few times this year.

2015 Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry is absolutely putting on his lobster bib and licking his chops seeing those numbers.

This game has all the ingredients for the perfect storm. One’s strength against the other’s weakness; one’s fear against the other’s confidence. A coach who is always excitable, bonds with his players and wears every emotion on his sleeve, against a coach who can be stoic, distant, but explosive when crossed.

This is the type of game the BCS should have been giving us all along.

This national title games shouldn’t be a cake walk for Alabama, and if Clemson plays the way they are capable, they could pull off the upset of the year.

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