Clemson and Tide to clash in title game

DEFENDING champion Alabama, boasting the top defensive unit in collegiate American football, could face its sternest test when the Crimson Tide meets Clemson in today’s national championship game (at 8am on Tuesday morning Cambodian time).

The showdown between Alabama (14-0) and the Tigers (13-1) in Tampa, Florida, is a rematch of last year’s final, which the Crimson Tide won 45-40 despite Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson rolling up 478 yards against equally vaunted defenders.

“Watson has played big in every game since he has been at Clemson,” Tigers coach Dabo Swinney said. “I think he has played great his whole three years.”

The senior run-pass threat has talented receivers who are big play threats and last year Clemson torched Alabama for 10 plays of 20 yards or more.

“I thought he played fantastic against us last year,” said Alabama coach Nick Saban of Watson. “He may be arguably the best player in college football.”

Alabama freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts, who served as a training version of Watson last year for the Alabama defence to practise against, will try to find his rhythm against a Tigers defensive side that blanked Ohio State 31-0 in a semifinal game.

No freshman quarterback has led his team to a national crown since Jamelle Holieway of Oklahoma in 1985.