Alabama Football: 5 impact players for Tide in national title game

MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 29: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrates after the win over the Oklahoma Sooners during the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 29: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrates after the win over the Oklahoma Sooners during the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
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Alabama football‘s fourth College Football Playoff matchup with Clemson will feature playmakers all over the field. Here are five key guys for the Tide.

More: Bold predictions for Alabama vs Clemson Part IV

Perhaps the least hyped match-up between these two teams also features perhaps the most talented teams in the series. Alabama’s defense has faced several NFL-prospect quarterbacks in 2018, besting Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray, Missouri’s Drew Lock, and Auburn’s Jarrett Stidham. Its defense will be tested to its breaking point by talented freshman Trevor Lawrence.

Alabama’s offense will be facing an elite defensive line and secondary, with Clemson ranking No. 1 in scoring defense, No. 2 in rush defense, and No. 2 in yards allowed per game. The Tigers blew past a talented Notre Dame squad with relative ease. They’ll face a tougher test against the Crimson Tide, but they’ll still give the favorites everything they’ve got.

For Alabama to do both, score against Clemson’s defense and slow down Trevor Lawrence, these five players will need to step up for the Crimson Tide.