CFB championship: Names to know

Perhaps the greatest college football head coach ever, Saban is hoping to win his seventh national championship and third in four years. His team has taken part in four straight College Football Playoff Championships.

An alum of Alabama, Swinney is appearing in his third College Football Playoff Championship in four years and looking for his second win. He's been the head coach at Clemson since 2008.

The first-year offensive coordinator at Alabama, Locksley is set to take over at Maryland after the championship game. He's had past head coaching stints at New Mexico and as an interim at Maryland in 2015.

Venables is usually on the short list for head coaching hires but has resisted moving on from Clemson. He's been the Tigers defensive coordinator since 2012 and previously held the same position at Oklahoma.

The Heisman Trophy runner-up this year, Tagovailoa led the Crimson Tide to a national championship last year with his second-half heroics vs. Georgia in the championship game. He's battled knee and ankle injuries this year to put up spectacular numbers as a sophomore, completing 69.5 percent of his passes for 3,671 yards and 41/4 TD/INT.

A true freshman quarterback, Lawrence unseated Kelly Bryant for the starting job during the regular season. He's gone on to complete 65.3 percent of his passes for 2,933 yards and 27/4 TD/INT.

Alabama's starting quarterback in 2016 and 2017, Hurts lost his job to Tagovailoa this season. He's still been acclaimed for his work as a teammate, resisting the urge to transfer, and he came up big during the second half of the SEC Championship vs. Georgia to keep the Crimson Tide undefeated.

Etienne has stepped up as Clemson's bell-cow running back during his sophomore season, with 190 carries for 1,573 yards and 22 touchdowns. He's also added one score as a receiver.

The leader of a dynamic Alabama running attack, Harris has 139 carries for 819 yards and nine scores, adding 201 yards receiving. He surpassed 1,000 yards rushing in each of the last two years.

Clemson's leading receiver, the 6-foot-4 Higgins has 56 receptions for 855 yards and 11 touchdowns in just his sophomore season. He's scored at least one time in each of the last three games.

A junior running back, Jacobs contributes both in relief of Damien Harris and as Alabama's primary kick returner. He has 593 rushing yards and 11 scores on the ground, adding four more touchdowns as a receiver and returner.

An undersized receiver at 5-foot-9, the speedy Rodgers is a key part of Clemson's offense as well as its primary punt returner. He had 52 receptions for 540 yards and four scores this season.

The third running back in the pecking order for Alabama, Harris has still been highly productive in his sophomore season. He has 108 carries for 724 yard and four touchdowns this season.

A key outlet receiver for the Tigers, Renfrow is concluding a highly productive four-year career at Clemson. He has 47 receptions for 534 yards and one score this season and more than 2,100 yards and 15 touchdowns for his career.

Alabama's top receiver, Jeudy is a dynamic deep threat with 63 receptions for 1,176 yards and 13 touchdowns in his sophomore year. He's scored in three consecutive games.

One of the stars of the CFP semifinal, Ross had six receptions for 148 yards and two touchdowns. The true freshman is averaging 21.2 yards per reception this season and has 847 receiving yards total.

Ruggs has made a huge jump in his sophomore season for the Crimson Tide. He has 45 receptions fro 738 yards and 11 touchdowns after scoring six times in his freshman season.

A star pass rusher, Ferrell remained at Clemson for his junior season despite being projected as a first-round pick in last year's NFL Draft. He has 51 tackles and 11.5 sacks this season and 27 sacks for his career.

Waddle has had a spectacular freshman season for the Crimson Tide, with 43 receptions for 823 yards and seven touchdowns. He's also served as the team's primary punt returner.

Bryant remained at Clemson along with Clelin Ferrell and Dexter Lawrence despite being a top draft prospect last year. During his senior season, he has 42 tackles and 8.5 sacks.

One of the top tight ends in the country, Smith has 40 receptions for 667 yards and seven touchdowns in his junior season.

Lawrence is suspended for the second consecutive game after testing positive for ostarine. Standing at 6-foot-4, 340 pounds, he's a top draft prospect.

Williams has emerged in his sophomore season as arguably the top defensive player available in next year's NFL Draft. He has 67 tackles and eight sacks in his sophomore season.

Joseph is one of Clemson's leading tacklers, with 76 tackles and 3.5 sacks in his senior season. He has 282 tackles during his Tigers career.

Buggs leads the Crimson Tide with 9.5 sacks in his senior season, also adding 46 tackles. He had four tackles in the CFP semifinal vs. Oklahoma.

Lamar is Clemson's third-leading tackler with 73 tackles this season. The junior also has three sacks and one interception.

Moses leads Alabama with 82 tackles this season as a sophomore and also has 3.5 sacks. The linebacker had six tackles in the CFP semifinal vs. Oklahoma.

Simmons, a sophomore, is Clemson's leading tackler this season, with 79. He also had two sacks and a pick-six.

Thompson has emerged as arguably the top NFL safety prospect in college football this season with a breakout junior year, notching 75 tackles and two interceptions.

Huegel is finishing off his college career in the CFP Championship. He's made 71-of-72 extra points and 10-of-15 field-goal attempts this season.