Refreshed Tigers begin preparing for Tide

CLEMSON, S.C. — This is Clemson coach Dabo Swinney’s favorite time of year — his league champion Tigers are primed for bowl practice and ready to chase a national title.

“This is fun for me,” Swinney said Tuesday night.

The top-ranked Tigers (12-1) have had most of the past 10 days off since dismantling Miami 38-3 to win their third straight Atlantic Coast Conference crown. That brought a third consecutive trip to the College Football Playoff where they’ll face No. 4 Alabama (11-1) for — you guessed it — the third year in a row in the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day.

Swinney said the players needed the break from what was a long season striving to match last year’s national championship. They reconvened Sunday night for a brief workout in shorts before getting down to the serious business of prepping for the Crimson Tide.

“We’ve got a good plan,” Swinney said.

The Tigers usually do. They are 40-3 the past three seasons, including one defeat coming to Alabama and coach Nick Saban in the 2015 title game, 45-40. Clemson faced the Tide in the final game a year ago, this time coming away with 35-31 last-second victory.

The winner this time will leave with the Sugar Bowl trophy and a chance to play for the game’s biggest prize — and certainly enhance the legacy of a growing rivalry between two of the most dominant programs of this era. There’s little doubt, Swinney said, that these Alabama-Clemson matchups will define this part of the decade in college football.

“I don’t think there’s any question some point down the road that we’ll look back at this decade and take great pride in it,” Swinney said.