College Football Rankings 2016: Projected AP Top 25 After National Championship

In a rematch of last year’s College Football Playoff national championship, Clemson flipped the result against Alabama and won its first national title since 1981. Through most of the first half, Clemson looked listless. They kept Alabama one-dimensional just as Washington had, and Deshaun Watson finished with 420 yards and three scores through the air and another 43 rushing yards and a score. Clemson finally took its first lead of the game on a Wayne Gallman TD run with less than five minutes remaining. Jalen Hurts ran in a score with two minutes left, but Clemson punched it in with one second left to steal away the crown.

Clemson’s only slip of the season came in an upset at home to Pitt. In that game, Watson threw for 580 yards and three touchdowns. But he also coughed up three interceptions and gained just eight rushing yards. For much of the year the Tigers were surviving rather than dominating, even as they went 12-1 to win the ACC. They had less offensive balance than last year, depending more on Watson’s arm, but they also enjoyed a defense that was more dominant in all phases.

But in the game that mattered most, Dabo Swinney finally succeeded in his quest for a first national title. They will take over the top spot in the final AP Top 25 of the year. But with Watson and other key parts of this championship team gone in 2017, Clemson will probably start next year further down the ranking.