GLENDALE, ARIZ. —
He hasn’t won five national championships for nothing, and No. 5 came on a night when Alabama won not because of Kirby Smart’s defense, which was shredded for 40 points and 550 yards, or the Heisman winner Derrick Henry. It won because Nick Saban thought of something.
An onside kick with 10:24 remaining in a tied national title game? Who does that? Only the best in the business, maybe the best ever in this business. Saban’s bold choice allowed Alabama to score 10 points without handing the ball back to the irresistible Deshaun Watson, and those 10 points carried a frantic night for Alabama.