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Clemson did not beat Alabama to win the national championship

Clemson won last year’s national championship long before it beat Alabama on Jan. 7 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

It happened on the practice field one day when left guard Johns Simpson and former defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence got into a fight.

“Dexter was just being Dexter, being big and strong and stuff,” Simpson said laughing.

But at the time it was no laughing matter. During one of Clemson’s good-on-good drills in the latter part of practice, Lawrence gave former All-American left tackle Mitch Hyatt a little extra push after a play was over.