With all the controversy and pomp surrounding the College Football Playoff, we end up with the game we would have had under the old system. No. 2 Clemson (13-1) gets its chance at revenge against No. 1 Alabama in the College Football National Championship Game at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla.
The game is a rematch of last year’s epic title game that Alabama won 45-40 with a 24-point fourth quarter.
As always scroll on down for the live blog. Keep reading for the press release from Alabama.
Football Begins Preparations for National Championship Matchup with Clemson
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The top-ranked Alabama football team returned to the practice field on Tuesday night, working a 75-minute session in shorts and helmets at the Thomas-Drew Practice Fields.
It was the first time the Tide has seen the field since defeating Washington in the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on Dec. 31 to secure the school’s fifth national championship game appearance in the last eight seasons. This marks the first of six practices prior to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game against Clemson at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., on Monday, Jan. 9. The final game of the college football season will kick off at 7:17 CT and air on ESPN with Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Samantha Ponder and Tom Rinaldi calling the game.
The Atlantic Coast Conference champion Clemson Tigers enter the College Football Playoff National Championship Game with a 13-1 overall record and a 7-1 mark in conference play. The Tigers defeated No. 3 Ohio State, 31-0, in the College Football Playoff National Semifinal at the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl on Dec. 31 to advance to this week’s national championship game. Clemson is led by ninth-year head coach Dabo Swinney. A 1993 Alabama graduate, Swinney has a career record of 88-28 with the Tigers.
Alabama and Clemson will meet for the 17th time in the history of the two programs, with the Crimson Tide owning a 13-3 all-time advantage in the series. While the Tigers won the initial three meetings, the Tide have won the last 13 contests, outscoring Clemson 435-94 over that span. The most recent meeting between the two teams occurred in last season’s College Football Playoff National Championship Game when Alabama rallied for a 45-40 win to capture the program’s 16th national championship. Tight end O.J. Howard earned offensive MVP honors in the victory after catching five passes for a career-high 208 yards and two touchdowns.
Get all the latest information on the team by following @AlabamaFTBL on Twitter and Facebook and AlabamaFBL on Instagram. General athletic news can also be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and AlabamaAthletics on Facebook.
Wednesday’s workout was the second of six practices prior to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game on Monday, Jan. 9, in Tampa, Fla. Alabama will square off with Clemson at Raymond James Stadium with the game scheduled for a 7:17 p.m. CT kickoff. The final game of the college football season will air on ESPN with Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit calling the game from the booth, while Samantha Ponder and Tom Rinaldi work the sidelines. The No. 1 versus No. 2 matchup is the fifth time in the last eight seasons that the Crimson Tide has made an appearance in the national championship game.
The game is on ESPN at 8 p.m. Watch it with me.
