With their 44-16 dismantling of Alabama on Monday night, Clemson toppled one of the biggest dynasties in NCAA history — and made a little legacy of their own in the process.
By beating the Tide, the Tigers became the first college football team to finish 15-0 since the 1800s as well as the first team to go undefeated through the season since the College Football Playoff started five years ago.
In the victory – the second time Clemson has beat ’Bama for the national championship in three years – Trevor Lawrence passed for 347 yards and three touchdowns for the second-ranked Tigers.
Clemson got the scoring started with a pick-six and pretty much rolled from there.
PICK-SIX! A.J. Terrell takes it 42 yards to the house for a 7-0 Clemson lead. pic.twitter.com/ChSs6N6r6x
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 8, 2019
Did this just seal the deal for Clemson? pic.twitter.com/7Cvn7NiYp1
— ESPN (@espn) January 8, 2019
Good GRACIOUS Justyn Ross
(via @SportsCenter) pic.twitter.com/BzAfBWp7Kf
— SI College Football (@si_ncaafb) January 8, 2019
74 YARDS!! Justyn Ross to the HOUSE! 🏠 pic.twitter.com/kCIP1tJmfF
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 8, 2019
BLITZ! pic.twitter.com/wk4BQMy7ws
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 8, 2019
Best team ever?
Best team ever.#ALLIN pic.twitter.com/CeFyZzRuRG
— Clemson Football (@ClemsonFB) January 8, 2019
“I mean, our guys had the eye of the tiger, but I’m so proud, and then for our seniors to be able to go out 15-0 and truly be the best ever — there was a lot of talk about best ever all year long,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said in reference to Alabama. “We were never in that conversation. But tonight, there’s no doubt. First 15-0 team, to beat Notre Dame and to beat Alabama to do it, this team won 13 games by 20 points or more and led by an unbelievable group of seniors, amazing group. I’m just thankful to be a part of it.”
Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa, the hero of last year’s national championship game, threw two interceptions in the first half and was unable to lead his team to pay-dirt over the final 44 minutes of the game. Overall, the sophomore went 22 for 34 for 295 yards and two touchdowns in the game.
“We had a great season, but five words: Good is not good enough,” Tagovailoa said. “We didn’t finish the way we wanted to finish. We didn’t do the things we needed to do to execute and be successful in this game, and that’s all it is.”
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