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THE CREAM OF THE CROP You thought last year’s College Football Playoff championship game was great? The rematch will take a place in the history books. Clemson won its first national title since 1981 with its 35-31 victory over top-ranked Alabama on Monday night. Here are a few other epic games that belong in the club: Notre Dame 10, Michigan State 10 (1966): A tie is an epic? When it comes to this one, it tops the list. Ara Parseghian’s Notre Dame team came into the game unbeaten and ranked No. 1. Duffy Daugherty’s Michigan State team also was unbeaten and ranked No. 2. The game, sometimes referred to as the “Game of the Century,” ended in controversy as Notre Dame, playing at Spartan Stadium, elected not to try for a score on the final series. The not-so-Fighting Irish ended up No. 1 in the final AP poll.

Miami 31, Nebraska 30 (1984 Orange Bowl): Miami pulled off one of the greatest upsets to win its first national title. The potent Cornhuskers needed a trick play — a “fumblerooski” TD by lineman Dean Steinkuhler — to stay in the game. They pulled within a point with less than a minute left, but instead of kicking the extra point that would have assured a championship, coach Tom Osborne decided to go for the win with a 2-point try. Turner Gill’s pass was swatted away by Ken Calhoun, and Miami benefited when higher-ranked teams lost in earlier bowl games and rose from fifth to No. 1 in the final AP poll.

Texas 41, Southern California 38 (2006 Rose Bowl): This game was like Alabama-Clemson for excitement but had an even wilder finish. It was a No. 1 vs. No. 2 game, and USC was loaded — with two Heisman winners in running back Reggie Bush and quarterback Matt Leinart. Like Clemson’s Deshaun Watson, Texas QB Vince Young piled up more than 400 total yards, but his Longhorns came out a winner when he scored on fourth down in the closing seconds.