Alabama-Clemson preview: How the two national championship teams match up statistically

After decisive semifinal wins, Alabama and Clemson are both back in the College Football Playoff national championship, matched up in the title game for the third time in four years.

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Ahead of the game, let's take a look at the tale of the tape for the main skill positions, defense, and special teams:

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Starting quarterback

Trevor Lawrence is having a phenomenal true freshman season for Clemson, but it’s hard for anyone to compare to Tua Tagovailoa, who has put together one of the best seasons at quarterback in Alabama history.

Backup quarterback

Both teams had a tough decision to make this season about who would start under center. For Alabama, last year’s starting quarterback Jalen Hurts was replaced by Tagovailoa, but Hurts has been an amazing backup for the Crimson Tide, leading a comeback win against Georgia in the SEC championship. Last year’s starter for Clemson, Kelly Bryant, lost the job to Lawrence and decided to transfer, leaving Chase Brice as the Tigers’ lone backup with any significant experience. 

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Top running back

This one is a bit misleading, since Alabama has three separate players with more than 100 rush attempts on the season. Joshua Jacobs has 593 yards and 11 touchdowns on 109 attempts, while Najee Harris has 724 yards and four touchdowns on 108 attempts, but Damien Harris leads the way for the Crimson Tide. Clemson has approached the run game much differently, giving Travis Etienne more touches than his top two backups combined, a choice that is easier to make when your top back racked up 1,500 yards on the season.

Top receiver

Sitting behind Calvin Ridley in a more run-heavy offense last year, Jerry Jeudy didn’t get too many opportunities to shine. But with Tagovailoa slinging the ball this year, Jeudy has exploded in his sophomore campaign. And he’s not alone. The Crimson Tide actually have five players with more than 600 receiving yards this year, the first time they’ve had more than three in the Saban era.

Defense

Only Mississippi State has held its opponents to fewer points per game than Clemson this year, though that was in two fewer games. And even without Dexter Lawrence against Notre Dame, the Tigers were a force, recording two turnovers, six sacks, and holding Notre Dame to 248 total yards and a conversion rate of 5-for-17 on third downs. Alabama isn’t anything to sneeze at either, as the Crimson Tide held Oklahoma to 14 points under its season average.

Kickers

Clemson’s Greg Huegel was perfect on extra points heading into the College Football Playoff, but had his first attempt blocked at the line, making him an unreal 71 for 72 on the year. Neither kicker has made a field goal longer than 49 yards in their careers.

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