Bama vs. Clemson is the CFP's glorified SEC title game

Clemson also took home a big win against No. 4 Oklahoma with a final score of 37-17. The Sooners (11-2) actually came into the game as favorites, but the Tigers showed their ideal record was no fluke.

ESPN announced a 9.9 overnight rating for the Cotton Bowl (Alabama-Michigan State, 8 p.m. ET) and a 9.7 rating for the Orange Bowl (Clemson-Oklahoma, 4 p.m. ET), the fifth and seventh-highest rated games out of approximately 1,350 college football games broadcasted by the network (excluding national title games). Speaking of zip, Alabama simply smothered overmatched Michigan State 38-0, outgaining the Spartans 440 yards to 239.

Oklahoma had only one long drive during the second half - it lasted 10 plays and covered 70 yards - but it ended with an interception that iced the game. Lawson, a top pro prospect who intends to enter the draft as a junior, had taunted the Sooners leading up the game. Clemson defeated Oklahoma 37-17 to adv...

Lawson, who intends to turn pro after this season, said he'll be ready to go in his final college game.

Added Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops: "They're not the No. 1 team in the country for no reason".

"I felt like Clemson was as good or equal before going into the football game, so I knew there was going to be a good bit of scoring", Ford said.

(AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez). Alabama coach Nick Saban pauses next to the Field Scovell Trophy after his team's Cotton Bowl NCAA college football semifinal playoff game against Michigan State, Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015, in Arlington, Texas. The Crimson Tide will try to win their 16th national championship - at least that's how many Alabama recognizes - and Saban's fourth title in seven years. Watson ran for 146 yards in the Orange Bowl and made a timely touchdown throw to boost the Tigers' momentum. "We've won 17 in a row, but we're still the underdog". "And I said '15 for 15, ' with the message being let's make them print 15 tickets this year, somehow, some way".

Although Clemson is ranked first for the time being, Alabama is going to prove it deserves that gaudy status.

Story of the Game: As alluded to above, it was the Clemson defensive line dominating this game.

Gallman broke free for a 21-yard run on the next play and it took only four more snaps for Clemson to truly break its opponent when Renfrow caught a 35-yard touchdown for a 13-point lead late in the fourth.

Watson has rushed for 100 yards in five of his past six games. A hungry Crimson Tide team is bad news for the Tigers.

There were two big plays on the drive: a 46-yard run by Watson to start the march and a 31-yard pass from punter Andy Teasdall to defensive tackle Christian Wilkins. "But it turned out Clemson was a whole lot better football team than they were".

In a statement responding to the complaint, Swinney said: "Players of any faith or no faith at all are welcome in our program".

Clemson goes for its second national championship ever and first since 1981, when an Alabamian named Danny Ford led the Tigers to the mountaintop.

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