The college football playoff will feature four conference champions for the second consecutive year when Clemson, Alabama, Michigan State and Oklahoma play for the national championship.
There was little drama a couple weeks ago for the selection committee, which announced its decision after deliberating over the weekend in Grapevine, Texas. Clemson, ACC champion and the only remaining undefeated in the FBS, maintained its No. 1 place in the committee classification after his win over North Carolina . The Tigers, seeking their first national title since 1981, will face the No. 4 Oklahoma, the Big 12 champion on December 31 at the Capital One Orange Bowl.
Alabama, which won its second consecutive SEC championship by defeating Florida, finished in the No. 2 in the final classification of the committee. The Crimson Tide will face No. 3 Michigan State on December 31 in Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic. They ensured another trip to the college football playoffs, Derrick Henry probably ensured the Heisman Trophy too. Henry ran for 189 yards and the No. 2 Crimson Tide wore out the Florida squad with a dominating defensive performance, defeating the Gators 29-15 in the Championship Game on Saturday SEC.
The Crimson Tide (12-1) kept the Gators in only three offensive yards in the second and third quarter, securing a place in the semifinals of the CFP either the Cotton or Orange Bowl on New Year’s Eve. Florida briefly took the lead 7-2 with 85 punt return yards Antonio Callaway touchdown early in the second quarter. But from there, Alabama emphasized his domain.
Henry entered the game as favorite for the Heisman and only boosted his chances with 44 carries against one of the best defenses in the nation to win the MVP award. He puts Alabama ahead with a two-yard run at the end of the first half.
Henry tied the record for touchdowns in a season in the SEC (23) and exceeded the mark of Herschel Walker aged rushing yards in a year, reaching 1,986 with at least one match still to play.
Nick Saban’s team is the only one who repeats the first playoff. Alabama, seeking his fourth national title under the direction of Saban, fell to eventual champion Ohio State last year in the semifinals in the Sugar Bowl.
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