Alabama Defeats Clemson, 45-40, to Win National Championship

'Bama wins their fourth title under head coach Nick Saban.

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For the fourth time in seven years, the Alabama Crimson Tide have won the national title. It's a commonly used phrase, but tonight's National Championship Game truly had it all. After Derrick Henryscored the first touchdown of the game on a 50-yard run, Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson responded with two touchdown passes to Hunter Renfrow in the first quarter. The Tigers and Crimson Tide continued to go back-and-forth and went back into the lockers tied up at 14. 

In the fourth quarter alone, both teams combined for 40 points. After hitting a field goal to tie up the score once again at 24, kicker Adam Griffith found an empty pocket in the Clemson special teams coverage and executed a perfectly placed onside kick that was recovered by Alabama. That moment put the Crimson Tide in the driver's seat and they never relinquished control. A Tigers delivered a counter jab by hitting a field goal to cut the deficit to four, but 'Bama had a counter of their own, a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Kenyan Drake

Watson fought to the bitter end, throwing a 24-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Leggett with just 12 seconds remaining. However, a last ditch onside kick attempt went out of bounds and the Crimson Tide went into the victory formation to secure the win.  

Watson finished with 405 passing yards, 73 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Alabama quarterback Jake Coker posted a career-high 335 passing yards while Henry ended up with 158 yards on 36 carries and three touchdowns. 

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