For the third time in four seasons, Alabama and Clemson will meet in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.
Before the No. 1 Crimson Tide pushed aside No. 4 Oklahoma, 45-34, in a CFP semifinal, No. 2 Clemson routed No. 3 Notre Dame, 30-3.
Alabama and Clemson played in a CFP semifinal last year. But now they're going to face off in a title showdown again, set for January 7.
Alabama-Clemson: College Football Playoff National Championship Game set
Two 14-0 teams are ready to battle for the national title.
MORE: National Championship Game date, time, TV channel
No. 1 Alabama and No. 2 Clemson will meet in the CFP for the fourth consecutive year. Alabama has won two of the first three meetings:
- Jan. 11, 2016: Alabama 45, Clemson 40 (CFP National Championship Game)
- Jan. 9, 2017: Clemson 35, Alabama 31 (CFP National Championship Game)
- Jan. 1, 2018: Alabama 24, Clemson 6 (CFP Semifinal)
Alabama and Clemson gave college football its first national title game rematch between No. 1 and No. 2 when they met in January 2016 and January 2017. They split the two games.
MORE: Alabama-Clemson series history
Here's how the Tide and Tigers added another big-time showdown to their series:
College Football Playoff: Semifinal scores
No. 1 Alabama 45, No. 4 Oklahoma 34 (Orange Bowl)
The Crimson Tide raced out to a 28-0, only to have to fight off a stubborn OU team.
Two Damien Harris touchdown runs and a pair of Tua Tagovailia touchdown passes gave Alabama the four-score lead. However, Heisman winner Kyler Murray kept the Sooners in the game, bringing Oklahoma to within 11 points three times in the second half (31-20, 38-27 and 45-34).
Murray passed for 308 yards and two touchdowns while adding 109 rushing yards and a touchdown.
Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa passed for 318 yards and four touchdowns, while the Tide picked up 200 yards and two scores on the ground.
No. 2 Clemson 30, No. 3 Notre Dame 3 (Cotton Bowl)
The Tigers made it looks easy, routing the undefeated Irish to improve to 14-0.
Clemson outgained Note Dame 538 to 248, with star freshman QB Trevor Lawrence passing for 327 yards and four touchdowns.
No. 1 Alabama (14-0)
| Date | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Sept. 1 | vs. Louisville (Orlando, Fla.) | W, 51-14 |
| Sept. 8 | vs. Arkansas State | W, 57-7 |
| Sept. 15 | at Ole Miss | W, 62-7 |
| Sept. 22 | vs. Texas A&M | W, 45-23 |
| Sept. 29 | vs. Louisiana | W, 56-14 |
| Oct. 6 | at Arkansas | W, 65-31 |
| Oct. 13 | vs. Missouri | W, 39-10 |
| Oct. 20 | at Tennessee | W, 58-21 |
| Nov. 3 | at LSU | W, 29-0 |
| Nov. 10 | vs. Mississippi State | W, 24-0 |
| Nov. 17 | vs. The Citadel | W, 50-17 |
| Nov. 24 | vs. Auburn | W, 52-21 |
| Dec. 1 | vs. Georgia (SEC Championship) (Atlanta, Ga.) |
W, 35-28 |
| Dec. 29 | vs. Oklahoma (CFP Semifinal) (Orange Bowl) |
W, 45-34 |
MORE: College football national championship history
No. 2 Clemson (14-0)
| Date | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Sept. 1 | vs. Furman | W, 48-7 |
| Sept. 8 | at Texas A&M | W, 28-26 |
| Sept. 15 | vs. Georgia Southern | W, 38-7 |
| Sept. 22 | at Georgia Tech | W, 49-21 |
| Sept. 29 | vs. Syracuse | W, 27-23 |
| Oct. 6 | at Wake Forest | W, 63-3 |
| Oct. 20 | vs. NC State | W, 41-7 |
| Oct. 27 | at Florida State | W, 59-10 |
| Nov. 3 | vs. Louisville | W, 77-16 |
| Nov. 10 | at Boston College | W, 27-7 |
| Nov. 17 | vs. Duke | W, 35-6 |
| Nov. 24 | vs. South Carolina | W, 56-35 |
| Dec. 1 | vs. Pitt (ACC Championship) (Charlotte, N.C.) |
W, 42-10 |
| Dec. 29 | vs. Notre Dame (CFP Semifinal) (Cotton Bowl) |
W, 30-3 |
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