Fourth seeded Alabama (11-1) practiced Thursday in the Superdome in preparing for Monday's College Football Playoff semifinal game against top-seeded Clemson (12-1). Duane Rankin/Montgomery Advertiser
This is more than just a rubber match for Clemson and Alabama.
This is chance for the Tigers to confirm last season’s 35-31 classic win in the College Football Playoff title game wasn’t a fluke and show they can beat the mighty Crimson Tide without Deshaun Watson.
Clemson can further establish it’s just as good, if not better, than anyone in college football, including Alabama. The Tide have 39 wins in the last three seasons.
The Tigers have 40.
Clemson (12-1) is the top seed in the College Football Playoff for the second time in three years, has won three straight ACC titles, but this latest run to the playoff is in question
Florida State, the top preseason challenger to Clemson, lost its starting quarterback, Deondre Francios, to a season-ending knee injury against Alabama in Atlanta. The Seminoles weren’t the same after that.
Miami was making the come up, but wasn’t ready for the big stage. Lamar Jackson is the ACC’s best player, but couldn’t make up for all of Louisville’s deficiencies.
Clemson beat seven ranked teams at the time it played them, but lost at Syracuse. Kelly Bryant left the game early with a concussion, but Clemson should’ve beaten a team that finished 0-5 after that.
The Orange lost its last three games to Wake Forest, Louisville and Boston College by a combined score of 162-67. Syracuse clearly played over its heads against Clemson, but turned out to be a bad team.
Clemson has a chance to put that loss further in the fluke category by beating Alabama.
This is an opportunity for Bryant to show he can get it done on the biggest stage. Dabo Swinney said they just asked to be the best version of himself. He’s going to have to be to win Jan. 1.
For Alabama (11-1), this is more than just an opportunity to avenge last year’s loss in Tampa, Florida, in the final seconds. The Tide can prove it deserved to make the playoff.
It came down to Ohio State and Alabama for that fourth and final spot. The Buckeyes won the Big Ten, beat two teams that were ranked in the top four in No. 2 Penn State and No. 4 Wisconsin, but Alabama got the nod despite not making the SEC title game and beating a total of three ranked teams.
The FSU win was solid at the time, but the preseason No. 3 'Noles fell apart without Francois. LSU is considered Alabama’s best victory, 24-10, but it needed Jalen Hurts to throw a touchdown with 25 seconds left to escape Starkville with a 31-24 victory over Mississippi State
Alabama can put all that weak resume talk behind it by beating the playoff’s top seed.
The Tide can show the injuries prevented it from beating Auburn and going for a fourth straight SEC title. Alabama should be healthier than it’s been in months come Jan. 1.
The Alabama offensive line can regain some respect by manning up against a great defensive front. Auburn’s terrorized Hurts and the Crimson Tide all night Nov. 25 at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Hurts has an opportunity to rebound from a subpar performance against Auburn and show he truly is improved as a passer. Clemson is going to force him to throw the ball to win.
A loss to Clemson will re-energize the end of Alabama’s dynasty under Nick Saban talk. The Tide can re-establish it’s still the best team in college football with a win over the defending national champions.
This is more than just a rubber match.
This is a chance for both teams to show why they’re one of the best in college football and earn an opportunity to play for a second national championship in the four-year playoff era.
Ding. Ding. Ding.
Let Round 3 begin.