1 Second On Clock The Dooms The Tide...Again
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| Helicopter Tackle Photo Credit: USA TODAY Sports/Jasen Vinlove |
TAMPA, Florida – And like that the winning streak ended at 25. And so did a second-consecutive national title. In a back-and-forth game filled with bruising hits, bulldozing runs and even some injuries the University of Alabama Crimson Tide came up short in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game 35-31, falling to a rejuvenated Clemson Tigers squad. This time it was the Tigers that seemed to grow stronger in the closing stanza to captured college football's biggest prize in front of a record-setting 74,512 hysterical fans at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
In the last four minutes and 38 seconds the lead lead in this clash of titans changed three times. Both offenses were able to put on scoring spurts, with Clemson picking up the last one leaving but one second on the game clock, then falling on an onside kick to give Alabama no chance with that last second.
It was senior linebacker Reuben Foster leading the Alabama defense on Monday night with 12 total tackles, including six solo as well as one sack. Senior linebacker Ryan Anderson was responsible for causing one fumble while recovering two to provide some defensive excitement and hopes of another non-offensive score. He also is credited with seven tackles on the night.
Despite some moments of its own, the Crimson Tide offense was never really able to consistently move the football on the Clemson Tiger defense. And the Bama defense that gave up 400 yards in last season's contest gave up just over 500 total yards last night
Alabama true freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts went 13-of-31 in passing for 131 yards and a touchdown. Additionally the youngster added another 63 rushing yards, including a 30-yard rushing touchdown with just 2:07 left in the game. which most thought would seal the victory for the Tide. Sophomore running back Bo Scarbrough would be forced to leave the game midway through the third period due to injury, but not before carrying the ball 16 times for 93 yards and two touchdowns. Senior tight end O.J. Howard led all receivers on the night hauling in four Jalen Hurts passes for 106 yards and a touchdown.
| Game Stats | CU | UA |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 511 | 376 |
| Pass Yards | 420 | 155 |
| Rushing Yards | 91 | 221 |
| Penalty Yards | 3-35 | 9-82 |
| 1st Downs | 31 | 16 |
| 3rd Downs | 7-18 | 2-15 |
| 4th Downs | 0-1 | 1-1 |
| TOP | 34:44 | 25:16 |
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| Bo scores! Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
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| Ryan Anderson second fumble recovery Photo Credit: SEC Network |
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Clemson Is One, Bama Two In Associated Press Poll
Five SEC Teams In Top 25
The Clemson Tigers are the kings of college football for the 2016-17 football season. Clemson stunned the Alabama Crimson Tide and denied Bama its second consecutive national championship.
With the win the Tigers finish number one in the final Associated Press Top 25 poll of the season, with Alabama naturally second. Five teams from the Southeastern Conference finished the season in the top 25. Alabama (2), LSU (13), Florida (14), Tennessee (22) and Auburn (24) all made it in.
1. Clemson (60)
2. Alabama
3. USC
4. Washington
5. Oklahoma
6. Ohio State
7. Penn State
8. Florida State
9. Wisconsin
10. Michigan
11. Oklahoma State
12. Stanford
13. LSU
14. Florida
15. Western Michigan
16. Virginia Tech
17. Colorado
18. West Virginia
19. South Florida
20. Miami
21. Louisville
22. Tennessee
23. Utah
24. Auburn
25. San Diego State
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Former Bama OC Lane Kiffin Tweets Support For Tide
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| Former Alabama Football OC Lane Kiffin Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
Numerous "digs" were coming from Alabama football fans on Twitter during the Alabama-Clemson College Football Playoff National Championship. Before the end of the fist half, one could surmise that Kiffin probably saw them. He, himself, like President-elect Donald Trump, has a fondness for tweeting.
Kiffin was offering encouragement to his former team, The University of Alabama Crimson Tide. This was is first "Bama-like" tweet since leaving the university and the athletic department. Here's a look at Kiffin's tweet:
Lane Kiffin
@Lane_Kiffin
25 minutes ago
RTR!! #17 #BOKNOWS
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Crimson Tide Gymnastics Opens SEC Season Ranked No. 4
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| Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
Four Southeastern Conference gymnastics squads made this week's Top 10. The LSU Tigers come in at No. 1, Florida is third, Alabama is fourth and Missouri is sixth.
The Top 10 are:
1 LSU
2 Oklahoma
3 Florida
4 Alabama
5 Utah
6 Missouri
7 Denver
8 UCLA
9 Oregon State
10 George Washington
The Crimson Tide is ranked in the top 10 in all four competition events. Bama is third on the uneven bars and balance beam, seventh on floor exercise and ninth on vault.
Scoring first on the balance beam is Alabama junior Kiana Winston with a near-perfect 9.95 at Oklahoma. She is also ranked No. 6 in the all-around after scoring a career-best 39.5 against the Sooners. Winston is also ranked No. 4 on the uneven bars. Senior Amanda Jetter and junior Mackenzie Brannan are tied for 15th on the uneven bars.
Alabama senior Aja Sims and junior Nickie Guerrero are tied for 13th on the balance beam. Winston, Guerrero and sophomore Ari Guerra are all tied at No. 22 on the floor exercise.
This Friday's Bama home opener against No. 1 LSU will begin at 7:30 p.m. CT at Coleman Coliseum.
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Bama Men's Basketball Hosts No. 23 Florida Tonight
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| Alabama men's head basketball coach Avery Johnson Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
The Crimson Tide has won four-straight, five of its last six, as it hopes to topple the nationally-ranked Gators to open league play and extend its winning streak to five games. Alabama defeated Vanderbilt 69-56 last Saturday. The Gators have won five consecutive games, seven of its last nine contests.
This will be the 141st meeting between Florida and Alabama, which ranks as the eighth-most games the Tide has played against any one particular opponent. Alabama leads the series 74-66.
Tonight's game will be broadcast on ESPNU with Mike Couzens (play-by-play) and Brooke Weisbrod (analyst) making the call.
