College Football: 25 most unforgettable games of the 21st century
By Phil Poling
No. 13: Clemson vs. Alabama, Jan. 9, 2017
If you’re an Alabama Crimson Tide fan, please consider one thing before getting upset about another loss showing up on this list of unforgettable games. With every national title that Alabama has won this century, the Crimson Tide have an embarrassing loss to go with it.
We’ve already been over the 2019 National Championship, the 2015 Sugar Bowl and the 2010 Iron Bowl. This is No. 4. That leaves one more, maybe two unforgettable games that featured the Crimson Tide. You’ll survive, though. Just wipe your tears with one of your championship t-shirts.
It won’t be from the 2016 NCAA season, though, as Alabama fell to the Clemson Tigers in the national championship. After losing to Nick Saban the previous year, Dabo Swinney and quarterback Deshaun Watson led the Tigers to a 35-31 victory.
Watson joined the Auburn Tigers’ Cam Newton and Nick Marshall as mobile quarterbacks to shred a Saban-led defense. He amassed 420 passing yards but managed 43 yards on 22 carries as well. He only averaged two yards per attempt on the ground, but the threat of him escaping the pocket and extending plays was clear all game.
Clemson dug itself a 14-point hole to start the game, turning the ball over twice and punting three times before finally scoring. The Tigers entered the half down just 14-7 but trailed 24-14 heading into the fourth quarter.
Things got interesting in the final stanza, as Clemson scored consecutive touchdowns to take a 28-24 lead. Quarterback Jalen Hurts would respond for Alabama though, regaining the lead after a 30-yard rushing touchdown. With time still on the clock, Watson and the Tigers got ready for one last ride.
Trailing by three with only two minutes to go, a national championship was on the line for Clemson. A field goal would have led us to overtime, but a touchdown would have ended it. That’s exactly what Watson was able to deliver for the Tigers.
To cap off a nine-play, 68-yard drive, Watson found old-reliable Hunter Renfrow in the right flat for the game-winning touchdown. There was one second left on the clock, but Alabama wouldn’t even get a chance.
This was the sequel to the previous year when Alabama won the game, but Clemson avenged that loss to even the score at one head-to-head title apiece. Clemson would one-up the Crimson Tide in its most recent national championship.