The showdown is on!
Pre-game, analysts, fans, and betting circles all had it right: Alabama's Crimson Tide and Clemson's Tigers are indeed the two most formidable teams in the NCAA, both in terms of overall strength and peak performance. They are fully deserving of their spots in the National Championship, and both were ready to seize the crown.
No sluggish starts, no hesitation—right from the kickoff, the game fell into place.
First Series of Plays: Alabama's Offense, Clemson's Defense.
Clemson's head coach, Swinney, understood that defense wasn't their strong suit. Moreover, a common problem for every team facing Alabama this season was figuring out how to contain Lance and the Crimson Tide's running back core. Clemson's defense was no exception.
But this didn't mean Clemson was giving up on defense.
In fact, Swinney had laid out a targeted strategy, drawing lessons from LSU's defensive tactics and adapting them to Clemson's needs.
Clemson runs a "4-3" formation, which, thanks to its four-man defensive line, can exert more pressure upfront and trouble quarterbacks with pass rushes. However, Swinney altered his strategy today.
While maintaining their traditional pass-rushing role, Clemson's defensive front adjusted their tactics slightly. Instead of focusing on sacking the quarterback, their priority was to create enough pressure upfront to disrupt Alabama's smooth transition between passing and running, causing occasional chaos.
Simultaneously, they avoided closing in too quickly or engaging in tight man-to-man coverage right away. Instead, Clemson set up layered defensive barriers, giving space in front of each line to allow adjustments based on Alabama's play selection before committing to stopping the play.
What did this mean?
In essence, Swinney understood that defense wasn't their forte, so he wasn't aiming for immediate, tight coverage or instant shutdowns, whether against the run or the pass. They were willing to concede some yards before making the stop. By doing this, Clemson created layers of support, using the time to create numerical advantages in key areas.
This strategy might seem clumsy—it almost guaranteed they would concede some yards on every play. But it minimized the risk of major mistakes and avoided overcommitting to either run or pass defense, which had cost Washington dearly in their aggressive and risky approach in the last game.
The goal was to exhaust, challenge, and delay Alabama's offense, slowly wearing down their explosiveness.
This strategy, indeed, was unique.
To put it simply, Swinney didn't aim to stop Alabama from scoring; he aimed to extend each drive, forcing Alabama to spend more time and effort on each possession, thereby turning the game into a war of attrition.
From the first defensive series, Clemson stuck to this strategy, demonstrating their preparation.
Having been stunned by a huge comeback during spring training camp, Swinney had spent the entire season refining this strategy and training his team accordingly. Now was the moment of truth.
And the results were clear—
Lance and Hurts, in the heat of the moment, couldn't see the whole picture yet. But they could feel a subtle sluggishness in their plays.
Whether passing or rushing, Alabama was still moving forward, but each play seemed to advance in small increments. There was no fluidity, no burst of momentum, forcing Alabama to fight for every yard.
Of course, Saban's offensive scheme was never flashy.
On their first series, Alabama's offense held the ball for six minutes and thirty-nine seconds, finally relying on Lance to power through the last two yards to reach the end zone.
It was hard work, for sure.
Yet, from another angle, Alabama's offense dominated possession, keeping Watson benched on the sideline, a key part of Clemson's sacrifice in its defensive strategy. Ultimately, Alabama scored, and the reigning champions still held the upper hand.
Second Series of Plays: Clemson's Offense, Alabama's Defense.
Now, it was Watson's time to shine.
It was clear that Watson had been waiting for this moment.
Typically, quarterbacks aim to release the ball quickly because holding onto it too long increases the risk of getting sacked by defensive pressure. This applies to passing and scrambling alike.
But Watson was daring, intentionally holding onto the ball longer, luring defenders in, and using his nimble footwork to dance on a tightrope while looking for passing lanes.
When Alabama's defensive line breached the pocket, Watson took advantage of the openings in the short and medium passing zones, dancing on a knife's edge to create passing windows.
If Alabama applied only light pressure without overcommitting, Watson used the time and space to take deep shots, challenging the secondary where matchups often turned into one-on-one duels.
Clearly, Watson was bold—almost reckless. Yet, he also demonstrated his abilities as a quarterback—
Short passes. Medium passes. Long passes. He was surprisingly accurate across the board.
He seemed determined to make good on his pre-game promise to prove whether he was a quarterback or just a running back. Watson didn't shy away from passing, instead leveraging his agility to create passing opportunities.
Indeed, a top-level quarterback can change the course of a game. In college football, where offensive and defensive schemes are relatively simple, a quarterback with superior physical traits stands out even more. Watson seized the chance to turn this National Championship game into his showcase for all NFL teams.
Alabama's defense faced a stiff challenge.
Watson was relentless—
Taking four minutes and seventeen seconds, Watson danced out of the pocket, drawing in multiple defenders, before firing a precise 12-yard pass to Clemson's star wide receiver, Mike Williams.
Williams, a highly talented player widely projected as a first-round draft pick, outmuscled cornerback Humphrey to snag the ball, spinning away and cutting into the end zone.
Touchdown!
Though risky and thrilling, Watson's aggressive play ultimately paid off, as Clemson matched Alabama with their first drive, delivering a strong counterpunch.
"7:7."
Just as predicted!
Pre-game expectations had set the stage for an electrifying contest; both teams entered this clash of titans with determination. From the very start, sparks flew as neither side gave an inch.
The excitement had arrived.
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Powerstones?
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