Alabama vs. Clemson, take two.
A year ago in Arizona, Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson put on a show in the College Football Playoff National Championship, forcing Alabama coach Nick Saban to call a bold onside kick to hold off the Tigers 45-40. In the locker room afterward, Watson predicted Clemson would be back.
For the first time in the 19-year history of the BCS and CFP, the national title game has a rematch. Alabama-Clemson could produce another classic in another matchup of Clemson coach Dabo Swinney against his alma mater.
Alabama has college football's most dominant defense and has won 26 straight games, but it has sketchy quarterback play with Jalen Hurts. Clemson lost once this season but has the hottest and most confident quarterback (Deshaun Watson) after the Tigers routed Ohio State 31-0 on Saturday.
Last year, Watson nearly single-handedly ruined the final time Saban and Kirby Smart coached together when he accounted for 478 of Clemson's 550 yards (405 passing and 73 rushing). To steal a possession, Saban called a critical onside kick in the fourth quarter.
"We thought, to be honest with you, that we could do a better job against their quarterback than what we did," Saban said last year. "He did a fantastic job in the game. We didn't cover as well as we're capable of, and we weren't able to handle him up front with our rushers."
Clemson and Alabama have one common opponent this season: Auburn. Clemson won at Auburn 19-13 on Sept. 3; Alabama beat Auburn in Tuscaloosa 30-12 on Nov. 26.
While Clemson was inconsistent at times this season, the Tigers always looked like potentially the toughest matchup for Alabama. Clemson has the defensive line, the dual-threat quarterback, and a number of offensive weapons to threaten Alabama. That now includes 1,000-yard receiver wide receiver Mike Williams, a likely first-round pick who missed the national championship game last year after suffering an early-season injury.
Still, this is an Alabama team that leads the nation in total defense, rushing defense and defensive touchdowns. This might be Saban's best defense ever. It's certainly the fastest and most athletic. Nine different Alabama players have scored defensive touchdowns this season.
On offense, Alabama found a new weapon in running back Bo Scarbrough, who rushed for 180 yards in a 24-7 win over Washington. The Crimson Tide will need Scarbrough to perform again, given Hurts' struggles in the passing game.
Alabama's dynasty could win its fifth national championship in eight years. Saban will be going for his sixth national title, which would tie Bear Bryant for the most in the modern era.
All that stands in the way are a motivated Watson and a confident Clemson. Swinney, a former Alabama wide receiver and assistant, is trying to help the Tigers win their first national title since 1981 by stopping the latest Crimson Tide dynasty.
After the Alabama loss last year, Watson laid the groundwork for 2016 by saying, "I love my teammates, love my brothers, and you'll see us in Tampa next year, so ..."
The "so" is why Alabama-Clemson II will be fascinating. Bring on another classic.
