Edge goes to ...

See how Clemson and Alabama match up for Monday night’s college football title game,

1. Win on first down. There might be no bigger key on defense than winning along the line of scrimmage on obvious running downs. There are several obvious benefits, though three stand out among the rest. The first is that it would loosen up Clemson’s outstanding defensive front. Second, doing so would open things up for Jalen Hurts, who must be kept out of long down-and-distance passing situations. And finally, it would lead to more sustained drives, keeping the Tigers’ dangerous offense on the sideline. 2. Get after the football. That Deshaun Watson tossed two interceptions against Ohio State yet still led Clemson to a 31-0 win in the Fiesta Bowl slightly disproves this point. Yet it’s clear that forcing turnovers is a recipe for success against Clemson, especially when Watson and the Tigers try to force the action downfield. There will be moments — coaches call them “50-50 balls” — when Alabama’s secondary simply needs to win the headto-head battles for the football with Clemson’s talented receiver corps. Letting the Tigers win those matchups would lead to a snowball effect for Alabama’s defense as a whole. 3. Find an offensive rhythm. The biggest off-field story line for either team is the departure of offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin, who is off to Florida Atlantic, and the promotion of his replacement in former Southern California coach Steve Sarkisian. It will be a nice long-term change, but how quickly can Sarkisian find a rhythm in his new role? And how different might the offense look? While Kiffin was derided at times for his willingness to lean on the pass, it’s not as if Sarkisian was a run-first coach when at the controls of his offense. 4. Hit on the game-changing play. How did Alabama beat Clemson last year? It was with a great offense and a solid defense, first and foremost, but also by catching the Tigers unaware. That was seen in the onside kick recovery that changed the complexion of the game in the second half. Don’t be surprised if Alabama goes back to that well Monday night, whether on special teams or with a devious play call on offense that leads to a shift in momentum. These are two very even teams; in this sort of matchup, one crucial moment can change the result. You only need to remember last January to find an example.