It had to be Alabama and Clemson.
The only way to bring resolution to college football in 2016 was to have the No. 1 Crimson Tide and No. 2 Tigers play again for the national championship, addressing the questions raised by their thrilling 45-40 showdown last January.
Can Nick Saban stop Deshaun Watson, the quarterback who forced a defensive mastermind to gamble that his special teams could steal a possession and his offense could outscore Clemson? Has Dabo Swinney built a program that can match Alabama's dominance on both lines of scrimmage? Is a former Alabama player the only person capable of halting its current dynasty?
The answers are coming Monday, and here are the matchups to know before the rematch kicks off in Tampa:
Clemson's offense vs. Alabama's defense
No need by now to rehash how talented, disruptive, and potentially historically great the Alabama defensive front is, right? But defensive lineman Jonathan Allen and Co. are not infallible against the pass on first down, as even a largely impotent Washington offense showed in the Peach Bowl. Jake Browning completed his first seven passes for 66 yards and a touchdown on first down, continuing a trend for the few teams that have been able to move the ball effectively against Alabama recently.
Ole Miss was 15-of-18 passing for 298 yards and two touchdowns on first down this season, conceding just one sack while amassing 43 points - tied for the second-most Alabama has allowed in a regular-season game under Saban. Even last year, Clemson was 13-of-18 for 158 yards on first down, and could be even more dangerous with Mike Williams leading the receiving corps this time around.
Running straight at Alabama simply doesn’t work. Doing so on first down increases the likelihood of ending up in third-and-long where Allen, Tim Williams, and Ryan Anderson can unload on the quarterback. Clemson has to spread Alabama out, use its deep and versatile collection of receivers to challenge the secondary, and hope that creates running lanes for Watson and Wayne Gallman.
Saban has traditionally relied on man-to-man coverage, which brings the risk of mobile quarterbacks scrambling for key gains when linebackers and defensive backs turn and run with their assignment. Does Saban use more zone concepts to contain Watson and cover for the absence of injured safety Eddie Jackson?
Alabama is unlikely to prevail in another shootout, so Saban must come up with the defensive solutions that were lacking last year.
Alabama's offense vs. Clemson's defense
If Clemson’s game plan will be all about risk-taking, then Alabama's is all about being risk-averse: playing to its strengths, relying on that run game, and keeping quarterback Jalen Hurts from having to throw more than 20 times.
Hurts has not been good under pressure, but opponents have not been able to consistently take advantage of the one glaring weakness in the freshman’s game. Completing less than one-third of his throws under duress (23-of-76 for 279 yards passing, per CFB Film Room), including going 0-for-4 against the Huskies, Hurts has more than made up for it with his timely deep balls and elusiveness as a runner. Clemson's young defensive line has to confuse and disrupt Hurts into making mistakes, giving Watson the two extra possessions Alabama was able to steal last year.
Of course, that scenario only works if Clemson can keep Bo Scarbrough in check. The sophomore was widely tipped as Alabama's next great running back coming into this season and is finally starting to live up to that billing. Scarbrough gashed Washington for 180 yards, nearly doubling his career high on his biggest stage so far. A bruising north-south runner, Scarbrough will probably have to match Derrick Henry's total of 158 yards rushing and three touchdowns in last year's title game for Alabama to retain the trophy. But Clemson's run defense has been sharp since its lone defeat to Pittsburgh, not allowing more than 111 yards in its last four games.
If Alabama is ever going to use tight end O.J. Howard again, now would be the time. Howard absolutely shredded Clemson for 208 yards and two touchdowns on just five receptions, and featuring him off run action should get the senior in behind linebackers and safeties focused on containing Scarbrough.
For all the focus on the removal of Lane Kiffin as offensive coordinator and promotion of Steve Sarkisian, it won't have much impact on Alabama's approach. Saban is going to get the plays he wants called, likely aiming for a 2.5-1 ratio of runs to passes. Where it could have an effect is if Alabama falls behind and an unfamiliar voice has to rally the offense. There is also a new dynamic in communication, so don't be shocked if Alabama has to waste an early timeout or two to get the right play called, put the right personnel on the field, or avoid a delay of game penalty.
Special teams
Assuming Alabama punter JK Scott left the pitching wedge back in Atlanta, this looks to be a toss-up. Clemson hasn't done much in the return game, but makes up for it with solid coverage teams. Jackson was a force returning punts, averaging 23 yards per punt with two touchdowns, but Alabama has yet to find an equally dynamic replacement.
If the game comes down to the kickers, Clemson's Greg Huegel is 5-of-7 on kicks of 40-49 yards this season while Adam Griffith of Alabama is just 3-of-7 from the same range. Neither team has attempted a field goal from 50 yards or longer.
