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College Football Playoff

2017 College Football Playoff National Championship

Monday, January 9, 2017 | 8 p.m. ET No. 2 Clemson vs. No. 1 Alabama Raymond James Stadium | Tampa, Florida
#2 Clemson
35
Final
31
#1 Alabama
SCORE BY QUARTERS 1st 2nd 3rd 4th FINAL
CU #2 Clemson (14-1) 0 7 7 21 35
UA #1 Alabama (14-1) 7 7 10 7 31

Attendance:
74,512
Kickoff Time:
8:19 p.m. ET
End of Game:
12:27 a.m. ET
Game Duration:
4:08


STATS, NOTES, QUOTES


 

GAME PROGRAM


 

YEAR IN REVIEW


 

TAMPA, Florida - An unprecedented national championship game rematch, the No. 2 Clemson Tigers claimed the program’s first national title in 35 years, defeating the No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide, 35-31, in the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship.

Heisman finalist and junior quarterback Deshaun Watson broke his own passing record in a national championship game with 420 yards. Watson was responsible for four touchdowns, including two in the fourth quarter, en route to being named Offensive Player of the Game.

Clemson’s defense, helped by Defensive Player of the Game Ben Boulware, held Alabama’s offense to a season-low 376 yards and gave up just 2-of-15 third down conversions.

After rallying from an early 14-0 deficit, it was Clemson’s offense that prevailed, putting up 21 points in the fourth quarter. The lead changed hands three times in the fourth, with Clemson scoring the game-winning touchdown with one second left in the game.

The Clemson Tigers celebrated the program’s first national title since 1981, snapping Alabama’s 26-game win streak in the process.


SCORING SUMMARY

QTR TIME SCORE
(V-H)		 TEAM SCORING PLAY DRIVE
1st 09:23 0-7 Alabama Bo Scarbrough 25 yd run (Adam Griffith kick) 3-59 (0:58)
2nd 10:42 0-14 Alabama Bo Scarbrough 37 yd run (Adam Griffith kick) 5-74 (1:24)
2nd 06:09 7-14 Clemson Deshaun Watson 8 yd run (Greg Huegel kick) 7-87 (1:33)
3rd 12:25 7-17 Alabama Adam Griffith 27 yd field goal 4-7 (1:29)
3rd 07:10 14-17 Clemson Hunter Renfrow 24 yd pass from Deshaun Watson (Greg Huegel kick) 4-42 (1:03)
3rd 01:53 14-24 Alabama O.J. Howard 68 yd pass from Jalen Hurts (Adam Griffith kick) 4-79 (1:01)
4th 14:00 21-24 Clemson Mike Williams 4 yd pass from Deshaun Watson (Greg Huegel kick) 9-72 (2:47)
4th 04:38 28-24 Clemson Wayne Gallman 1 yd run (Greg Huegel kick) 6-88 (1:55)
4th 02:07 28-31 Alabama Jalen Hurts 30 yd run (Adam Griffith kick) 6-68 (2:31)
4th 00:01 35-31 Clemson Hunter Renfrow 2 yd pass from Deshaun Watson (Greg Huegel kick) 9-68 (2:00)


CLEMSON STARTERS

POS. NO. OFFENSE
LT 75 Mitch Hyatt
LG 51 Taylor Hearn
C 5G Jay Guillermo
RG 55 Tyrone Crowder
RT 76 Sean Pollard
TE 16 Jordan Leggett
WR 7 Mike Williams
QB 4 Deshaun Watson
RB 9 Wayne Gallman
WR 13 Hunter Renfrow
WR 3 Artavis Scott
POS. NO. DEFENSE
DE 42 Christian Wilkins
DT 94 Carlos Watkins
DT 90 Dexter Lawrence
DE 99 Clelin Ferrell
SLB 6 Dorian O’Daniel
MLB 34 Kendall Joseph
WLB 10 Ben Boulware
CB 31 Ryan Carter
SS 18 Jadar Johnson
FS 23 Van Smith
CB 25 Cordrea Tankersley

CLEMSON RESERVES

1 - Trayvon Mullen, 2 - Mark Fields, 3C - Kyle Cote, 3M - Ray-Ray McCloud, 8 - Deon Cain, 12 - K’Von Wallace, 14 - Denzel Johnson, 19 - Tanner Muse, 27 - C.J. Fuller, 28 - Tavien Feaster, 29 - Marcus Edmond, 32 - Andy Teasdall, 33 - J.D. Davis, 36 - Judah Davis, 38 - Amir Trapp, 41 - Grant Radakovich, 43 - Chad Smith, 44 - Garrett Williams, 47 - James Skalski, 49 - Richard Yeargin, 56 - Scott Pagano, 57 - Tre Lamar, 62 - David Estes, 69 - Maverick Morris, 73 - Tremayne Anchrum, 80 - Milan Richard, 84 - Cannon Smith, 85 - Seth Ryan, 91 - Austin Bryant, 92 - Greg Huegel.

ALABAMA STARTERS

POS. NO. OFFENSE
LT 74 Cam Robinson
LG 71 Ross Pierschbacher
C 75 Bradley Bozeman
RG 78 Korren Kirven
RT 73 Jonah Williams
WR 11 Gehrig Dieter
TE-H 88 O.J. Howard
QB 2 Jalen Hurts
RB 9 Bo Scarbrough
WR-X 13 ArDarius Stewart
WR-Z 3 Calvin Ridley
POS. NO. DEFENSE
DE 93 Jonathan Allen
NG 94 Da’Ron Payne
DE 54 Dalvin Tomlinson
DB 2A Tony Brown
SAM 22 Ryan Anderson
MIKE 32 Rashaan Evans
WILL 10 Reuben Foster
CB 26 Marlon Humphrey
CB 28 Anthony Averett
SS 29 Minkah Fitzpatrick
FS 1D Ronnie Harrison

ALABAMA RESERVES

1E - Jamey Mosley, 1 - Robert Foster, 5 - Shyheim Carter, 6 - Hootie Jones, 7 - Trevon Diggs, 9A - Da’Shawn Hand, 14 - Deionte Thompson, 15 - JK Scott, 16 - T.J. Simmons, 17 - Cam Sims, 18 - Cooper Bateman, 25 - Josh Jacobs, 30 - Mack Wilson, 31 - Keaton Anderson, 33 - Anfernee Jennings, 34 - Damien Harris, 39 - Levi Wallace, 42 - Keith Holcombe, 47 - Christian Miller, 55 - Cole Mazza, 56 - Tim Williams, 69 - Joshua Frazier, 81 - Derek Kief, 84 - Hale Hentges, 87 - Miller Forristall, 89 - Brandon Greene, 99 - Adam Griffith.


 
2017 College Football Playoff National Championship

OFFENSIVE
PLAYER OF THE GAME Deshaun Watson
Deshaun Watson
Jr., QB, Clemson

DEFENSIVE
PLAYER OF THE GAME Ben Boulware
Ben Boulware
Sr., LB, Clemson


TEAM STATISTICS CU UA
First downs 31 16
Rushing 8 10
Passing 19 5
Penalty 4 1
Rushes-Yards 42-91 34-22
Passing Yards 420 155
Passes Comp-Att-Int 36-57-0 14-32-0
Total Offense
(Plays-Yards)		 99-511 66-376
Punt Returns-Yards 1-3 1-9
Kickoff Returns-Yards 6-130 3-57
Punts (Number-Avg) 9-38.3 11-43.9
Fumbles-Lost 2-2 1-0
Sacks By
(Number-Yards)		 0-0 4-25
Penalties-Yards 3-35 9-82
3rd Down Conversions 7-of-18 2-of-15
4th Down Conversions 0-of-1 1-of-1
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing: Clemson - Wayne Gallman, 18-46, 1 TD; Deshaun Watson, 21-43, 1 TD; C.J. Fuller, 1-3; Artavis Scott, 1-0.

Alabama - Bo Scarbrough, 16-93, 2 TD; Jalen Hurts, 10-63, 1 TD; ArDarius Stewart, 1-25; Damien Harris, 5-24; Josh Jacobs, 2-16.
Passing: Clemson - Deshaun Watson, 36-56-0, 420, 3 TD.

Alabama - Jalen Hurts, 13-31-0, 131, 1 TD; ArDarius Stewart, 1-1-0, 24.
Receiving: Clemson - Hunter Renfrow, 10-92, 2 TD; Mike Williams, 8-94, 1 TD; Jordan Leggett, 7-95; Deon Cain, 5-94; Wayne Gallman, 3-39; Artavis Scott, 3-6.

Alabama - Calvin Ridley, 5-36; O.J. Howard, 4-106, 1 TD; ArDarius Stewart, 2-12; Bo Scarbrough, 2-7; Damien Harris, 1- -6.
Punting: Clemson - Andy Teasdall, 8-307, 38.4; Deshaun Watson, 1-38, 38.0.

Alabama - JK Scott, 10-458, 45.8.
Returns: Clemson - Punt: Artavis Scott, 1-3; Kickoff: Artavis Scott, 3-77; Clelin Fuller, 3-53; Intercept: None.

Alabama - Punt: Gehrig Dieter, 1-9; Kickoff: ArDarius Stewart, 2-42; Hale Hentges, 1-15; Intercept: None.
Field Goals: Clemson - None.

Alabama - Adam Griffith, 1-1 (27 Missed).
Tackles:
(Solo-Assist-Total, Sacks-Yds, TFL-Yds)		 Clemson - Jadar Johnson (4-3-7, 0, 0.5-1); Carlos Watkins (6-0-6, 0, 1.0-2); Kendall Joseph (4-2-6, 0, 1.5-6); Ben Boulware (4-2-6, 0, 2.0-9); Cordrea Tankersley (3-2-5, 0, 0); Dexter Lawrence (4-0-4, 0, 0); Dorian O’Daniel (4-0-4, 0, 0); Van Smith (2-1-3, 0, 0); Judah Davis (1-0-1, 0, 0); Mark Fields (1-0-1, 0, 0); Tanner Muse (1-0-1, 0, 0); Jay Guillermo (1-0-1, 0, 0); Clelin Ferrell (1-0-1, 0, 1.0-1); Austin Bryant (1-0-1, 0, 1.0-1); Hunter Renfrow (1-0-1, 0, 0); Ryan Carter (1-0-1, 0, 0); Marcus Edmond (1-0-1, 0, 0); Tre Lamar (0-1-1, 0, 0); Greg Huegel (0-1-1, 0, 0); Kyle Cote (0-1-1, 0, 0); Scott Pagano (0-1-1, 0, 0).

Alabama - Reuben Foster (6-6-12, 1.0-8, 1.0-8); Rashaan Evans (6-5-11, 0.5-3, 0.5-3); Ronnie Harrison (5-5-10, 0, 0); Ryan Anderson (5-2-7, 1.0-7, 2.0-11); Tony Brown (4-3-7, 0, 0); Jonathan Allen (4-3-7, 1.0-5, 1.0-5); Da’Ron Payne (3-2-5, 0.5-2, 0.5-2); Anthony Averett (2-3-5, 0, 0); Minkah Fitzpatrick (3-1-4, 0, 0); Dalvin Tomlinson (3-1-4, 0, 1.0-1); Marlon Humphrey (1-2-3, 0, 0); Keith Holcombe (2-0-2, 0, 0); Tim Williams (1-1-2, 0, 0); Deionte Thompson (1-1-2, 0, 0); Mack Wilson (1-0-1, 0, 0); Anfernee Jennings (0-1-1, 0, 0); Joshua Frazier (0-1-1, 0, 0); Da’Shawn Hand (0-1-1, 0, 0).