Clemson vs. Alabama: Road to the National Championship

The hyped Badgers defense was no match for Derrick Henry in the season opener. Henry rushed for 147 yards on only 13 carries, finding the end zone three times. Kenyan Drake added 10 rushes for 77 yards and one score. The suffocating Alabama run defense allowed only 40 yards on 21 carries.

Wofford was no match for Clemson in a game that was 35-7 by halftime. Deshaun Watson was 18-of-22 for 194 yards and two touchdowns, before giving way to Nick Schuessler off the bench. The Tigers had 533 yards on offense.

Middle Tennessee showed a formidable offense this season, but it didn't show vs. the Crimson Tide. Alabama allowed only 4.4 yards per pass attempt and 2.8 yards per rush. On offense, it was the Derrick Henry show again with 96 yards rushing and three scores. Jake Coker threw for 214 yards before allowing backup Cooper Bateman to clean up.

Appalachian State can't be taken lightly after knocking off Michigan in one of the biggest upsets in college football history in 2007, but the Mountaineers were no match for the Tigers on this day. Clemson led 31-0 at halftime, and Deshaun Watson had another enormous day 19-of-26 for 248 yards and three touchdowns.

Clemson got a scare on a Thursday nighter vs. Louisville, closing out the game on an interception. The Tigers rushed the ball well with 202 yards on 40 carries, but Deshaun Watson struggled with two picks. Clemson outgained the Cardinals 401-272.

Alabama had high hopes to avenge its loss to Ole Miss from 2014, but the Tide ran into red-hot quarterback Chad Kelly. The Crimson Tide had five turnovers, and Kelly threw for 341 yards and three touchdowns. Alabama's season looked to be at a crossroads with quarterback Jake Coker struggling in the game.

The embarrassed Alabama defense bounced back to pitch a shutout vs. Louisiana-Monroe. While Jake Coker struggled again, the Alabama defense allowed only 92 total yards and had two takeaways.

Georgia fans were prepared to take the next step, finally getting over the hump vs. Alabama. Instead, the Bulldogs were absolutely embarrassed at home, with Jake Coker rebounding to execute 11-of-16 for 190 yards and one touchdown. Derrick Henry added 148 yards and one touchdown on the ground, and Georgia had only 106 yards passing.

One of the most hyped games of the year featured No. 6 Notre Dame at No. 12 Clemson in an absolute downpour. The Fighting Irish made a great fourth-quarter comeback after being down 21-3 going into the final quarter and outgained the Tigers 432-296. The difference in the game was Notre Dame's four turnovers and inability to rush the ball with only 3.5 yards per carry.

Alabama's great defense struck again, dominating the Razorbacks for most of the game. Arkansas had only 220 yards on offense and nine first downs in the defensive battle, rushing for less than two yards per carry. Jake Coker threw two interceptions, but he was also 24-of-33 for 262 yards and two touchdown passes.

Georgia Tech's triple option offense wasn't much of a threat on this day, with Clemson leading 33-10 by halftime. The Tigers outgained Georgia Tech by more than 300 yards, even while they had three turnovers to the Yellow Jackets' one. Running back Wayne Gallman had a huge day with 115 yards on 13 carries and two scores.

The Crimson Tide visited No. 9 Texas A&M at Kyle Field, but the Aggies were no match for Derrick Henry. Henry had his game of the year, rushing for 236 yards and two scores on 32 carries. Alabama absolutely shut down the A&M run game, with the Aggies gaining only 32 yards on 25 carries. Texas A&M also turned over the ball four times.

Boston College flashed a great defense for most of the season, but it couldn't do much to stop Deshaun Watson. Clemson gained 532 total yards with Watson passing for 420 yards and three touchdowns. As usual, the Eagles couldn't do anything on offense, with quarterback Jeff Smith going 7-of-22 for 87 yards.

The Vols gave Alabama a major scare in a defensive battle, but Derrick Henry scored in the last three minutes of the game to seal it. Tennessee also missed three field goals that would have ultimately made the difference. Henry finished the day rushing for 143 yards on 28 carries, while Jake Coker went 21-of-27 for 247 yards and one interception.

Clemson absolutely demolished Miami in Al Golden's final game leading the Canes. Miami was embarrassed, converting only six first downs and gaining 146 total yards. The Canes also threw three picks. Clemson's offense cruised behind big days from Deshaun Watson and Wayne Gallman, gaining 567 total yards.

After shutting out Miami the previous week, Clemson's defense had some hiccups vs. NC State. The Wolfpack was able to accumulate 389 total yards and average 5.0 yards per carry on the ground. NC State still couldn't keep up with Deshaun Watson's offense, as he threw for 383 yards and five touchdowns, adding 54 yards and one score on the ground. Wayne Gallman had 172 yards rushing and one touchdown.

No. 4 Alabama took on No. 2 LSU, and the question was whether anyone could stop Leonard Fournette. The Crimson Tide did just fine, holding Fournette to only 31 yards on 19 carries. Derrick Henry jumped him in the Heisman race with 210 yards and three touchdowns, and the LSU offense had only 182 total yards.

Clemson finally beat Florida State, knocking the No. 16 Seminoles off despite trailing 10-6 at halftime. The Tigers' offense came to play in the second half, and Clemson had 512 total yards in the game and 29 first downs. Both Deshaun Watson and Wayne Gallman rushed for more than 100 yards, and the team overcame a huge day by Dalvin Cook, who rushed for 194 yards on 21 carries.

The Crimson Tide had no problem holding senior quarterback Dak Prescott in check, as he was only 22-of-43 for 300 yards through the air and rushed for 14 yards. Derrick Henry added to his Heisman Trophy résumé with 22 carries for 204 yards and two scores. Alabama led 21-3 at halftime before letting its foot off the gas a bit in the second half.

Syracuse tried to keep up with Clemson, but the Orange simply couldn't stop Deshaun Watson. He was 35-of-48 for 368 yards and two touchdowns, adding 105 yards and one score on the ground. The Tigers' run defense was exposed, allowing 242 yards and three touchdowns, but they did more than enough to hold the Orange in check.

Alabama was heavily criticized for facing an FCS opponent this late in the season, even as Charleston Southern came into the game at 9-1. The game was 49-0 at halftime, and Charleston Southern had only 134 total yards on offense. Jake Coker had a fine day, going 11-of-13 for 156 yards and two passing touchdowns.

Clemson put together a huge lead by halftime, 30-7, and Deshaun Watson shined completing 24-of-35 for 343 yards and three touchdowns. The Demon Deacons couldn't do much in the passing game, with only 113 yards. Clemson had 400 more total yards than Wake Forest but also turned the ball over four times.

There was no magic for Auburn in this year's Iron Bowl, as its problems at quarterback continued. Jeremy Johnson completed only 10-of-23 passes for 170 yards, and the Tigers averaged only 2.5 yards per carry. Derrick Henry all but cemented his Heisman Trophy win by rushing 46 times for 271 yards and one score as the Crimson Tide ran over Auburn in the fourth quarter.

The Gamecocks tried to remedy a rough year in their rivalry game vs. Clemson but couldn't quite keep up with the Tigers in the second half. Clemson was able to gain 515 total yards with the help of Deshaun Watson's 279 passing yards and 114 rushing yards, adding one passing touchdown and three scores on the ground. 

The heavily favored Crimson Tide didn't have the SEC Championship go as smoothly as hoped, but the win was never much in doubt. Florida had only 180 total yards, while Derrick Henry set the SEC single-season rushing record after rushing for 189 yards on 44 carries. Alabama's great run defense allowed only 15 yards on 21 carries from the Gators.

Clemson halted North Carolina's 11-game winning streak but not without controversy. The Tar Heels made a late charge and recovered an onside kick that was overturned on a phantom offsides call. If only North Carolina could have stopped Deshaun Watson earlier. He connected on 26-of-42 for 289 yards and three touchdowns, adding 131 yards and two scores on the ground. Wayne Gallman also had 187 rushing yards. UNC quarterback Marquise Williams completed only 11-of-33 passes.

Prognosticators wondered if Connor Cook and the Spartans could score on Alabama's defense. The answer was a resounding no, as the Crimson Tide dominated the game in every facet. Even when Michigan State found some momentum near the end of the first half, Cyrus Jones came up with a key pick near the goal line. He added a punt return touchdown later in the game, while Jake Coker had arguably the best game of his career, completing 25-of-30 for 286 yards and two scores. Cook finished his last college game 19-of-39 for 210 yards and two picks, and the Spartans rushed for only 29 yards.

Clemson went into the College Football Playoff as underdogs against the Sooners despite being the No. 1 seed. The teams went toe to toe in the first half, with the Sooners leading 17-16 at halftime. Clemson flexed its muscle in the second half, and the injuries started piling up on the Oklahoma offense. The great Clemson offense had 530 total yards, 312 on the ground. The Tigers also held the impressive Sooners run game to only 67 yards on 33 carries.