There was no guarantee that Alabama would win the national championship in its confrontation with Clemson Monday night at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, but the combination of Nick Saban, Tua Tagovailoa and a rock-ribbed defense appeared to give the Crimson Tide a very good chance of winning yet another title.
Trevor Lawrence and the Clemson Tigers were having none of it. Not only did the Tigers seize control of the game in the first half, they dominated what many believed was the best Alabama team in the Nick Saban era and earned the national championship with a 44-16 victory.