TAMPA, Fla. — Dabo Swinney wishes he would have punted the football on the Tigers’ opening possession instead of going for fourth-and-one from the Alabama 41. Running back Wayne Gallman was stopped for no gain and Alabama made its early statement.
The Crimson Tide owned Clemson from that point. Running back Bo Scarbrough rushed for 76 yards and two touchdowns to pace the Crimson Tide to a 14-7 halftime lead.
Following Bama’s fourth-down stop, it needed just three plays to go 59 yards as Scrabrough raced 25 yards off the left side to put the Tide up 7-0 with 9:23 to play in the first.