Alabama rolls:
No. 1 Alabama routs Gators
The nation’s No. 1 team scored off a blocked punt and an interception return before wearing down Florida in the second half with a dominant running game in the battle for the SEC championship.
Alabama showed off all its weapons in the Southeastern Conference championship game.
Now, the Crimson Tide can expect a return trip to Atlanta for the College Football Playoff.
The nation’s No. 1 team scored off a blocked punt and an interception return Saturday before wearing down No. 16 Florida in the second half with a dominant running game. The result was a 5416 rout that positioned Alabama to go for its second straight national title and its fifth crown in the last nine years under coach Nick Saban.
Next up: a likely semifinal game at the Georgia Dome on Dec. 31.
“You don’t always get what you want in life, but you mostly get what you deserve,” said Saban, whose five national titles is one shy of tying Bear Bryant for the most by any coach. “These guys have done a fantastic job all year long to win 13 games and the SEC.”
The Crimson Tide (13-0, No. 1 CFP) bolted to a 16-9 lead in the first quarter despite being held to minus-7 yards and no first downs. They scored one touchdown off a blocked punt, another off an interception return. A field goal was set up by another pick — one of three thrown by Florida quarterback Austin Appleby in the first half.
The Tide led, 33-16, at halftime and iced the victory with scoring drives of 98 and 91 yards, sparked by a goal-line stand that finished off the last gasp by the Gators (8-4, No. 15 CFP).
(3) Clemson 42, (18) Virginia Tech 35: Deshaun Watson bolstered his Heisman Trophy candidacy by passing for three touchdowns and running for two more to lead the Tigers (12-1, No. 3 CFP) over the Hokies (9-4, No. 24 CFP) in in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game in Orlando, Fla.
Winning consecutive league titles for the first time in 28 years likely will send the Tigers back to the four-team College Football Playoff for the second straight year.
Watson completed 23 of 34 passes for 288 yards, including TDs of 21 and 10 yards to Jordan Leggett and 15 yards to Hunter Renfrow for a 42-28 lead midway through the fourth quarter. He also rushed for 85 yards on 17 attempts for the Tigers. They’ve won back-toback ACC titles for the first time since winning three straight from 1986’88.
(7) Oklahoma 38, (10) Oklahoma State 20: Baker Mayfield passed for 288 yards and three touchdowns as the Sooners (10-2, 9-0 Big 12, No. 9 CFP) beat the Cowboys (9-3, 7-2, No. 10 CFP in a matchup of in-state rivals that decided the Big 12 champion and likely guaranteed Okahoma a trip to the Sugar Bowl.
The Heisman Trophy candidate performed well throughout, despite finishing the game without top receiver Dede Westbrook, a Biletnikoff Award finalist. Westbrook caught four passes for 111 yards before being knocked out of the game on a crushing hit by Oklahoma State safety Jordan Sterns.
(13) West Virginia 24, Baylor 21: Skyler Howard threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score and the host Mountaineers (10-2, 7-2) held on in their Big 12 regular-season finale against the rival Bears (6-6, 3-6). Justin Crawford rushed for 209 yards to help the Mountaineers clinch a 10win season.
Temple 34, (20) Navy 10: Phillip Walker threw two touchdown passes, and the Owls stuffed the running game of the Midshipmen to claim their first American Athletic Conference title in Annapolis, Md.
After Temple (10-3) scored touchdowns on its first three possessions, protecting the 21-0 lead became substantially easier when Navy (9-3, No. 19 CFP) lost standout quarterback Will Worth to a second-quarter ankle injury.
San Diego State 27, Wyoming 24: Rashaad Penny rushed for 117 yards and two touchdowns, and Donnel Pumphrey added 110 yards and one TD as the Aztecs (10-3) lassoed the Cowboys (8-5) to win the Mountain West Conference championship game in Laramie, Wyo.
Western Kentucky 58, Louisiana Tech 44: Anthony Wales rushed for 209 yards and four touchdowns, and Mike White threw for 421 and three more scores as the high-octane offense of the Hilltoppers (10-3) was too much for the Bulldogs (8-5) in the Conference USA title game.
Grambling State 27, Alcorn State 20: Martez Carter’s 31-yard touchdown run helped the Tigers overcome a 17-point halftime deficit in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship game in Houston.
The Tigers won their first SWAC title since 2011.