No. 2 Alabama (13-1) will be going for its fourth national title in seven seasons when the Crimson Tide takes on No. 1 Clemson (14-0) in the College Football Playoff national championship game in nearby Glendale, Ariz. Should Alabama prevail, it would end a two-year title drought and give the SEC its eighth national championship in the past 10 seasons.
An Alabama victory would also give the SEC nine wins in its 11 postseason games.
“Everybody said our conference was down this year, but I sure didn’t see it,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said. “It was a grind week after week, like it has always been.