Saban, Tide back in title game
A pair of Alabama defensive players scored touchdowns 13 seconds apart in the third quarter, and the No. 4 Crimson Tide dominated top- ranked Clemson 24- 6 in the Sugar Bowl semifinal game Monday night in New Orleans to give coach Nick Saban another shot at a record sixth national title.
The third straight playoff meeting between the college football powerhouses was a dud compared to their previous two meetings, both high- scoring classics with the national title on the line.
Without Deshaun Watson, Clemson ( 12- 2) simply had no answer for Saban’s latest group of defensive standouts, sending Alabama ( 12- 1) to an all- Southeastern Conference showdown against Georgia next Monday night in Atlanta.
Da’Ron Payne, a 308- pound defensive lineman, hauled in a one- yard touchdown pass to put the Tide ahead 17- 6. On Clemson’s next play, Kelly Bryant’s pass deflected off the hands of his receiver and was picked off by Mack Wilson, who returned it 18 yards for a clinching touchdown.
Georgia 54, Oklahoma 48 ( 2OT)
Georgia’s Sony Michel burst through the line for a 27- yard touchdown run to give the No. 3 Bulldogs a 54- 48 victory against No. 2 Oklahoma in Pasadena, California, winning the first overtime Rose Bowl.
Michel, whose fumble in the fourth quarter had been returned for a go- ahead touchdown by Oklahoma, ran for 181 yards and three scores for Georgia ( 13- 1), but none was bigger than the last one in the second OT.
Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield threwfor 287 yards and two touchdowns and caught a touchdown pass that gave the Sooners a 17- point lead with six seconds left in the first half. But the Heisman Trophy winner couldn’t get the Sooners ( 12- 2) into the end zone in overtime.
S. Carolina26, Michigan 19
Sophomore Jake Bentley threw for 239 yards and two touchdowns, including a 53- yarder to Shi Smith, to help the Gamecocks ( 9- 4) overcome a 16- point second- half deficit to win the Outback Bowl in Tampa, Florida. Michigan ( 8- 5) turned the ball over five times, including an endzone interception with just under eight minutes to go.
C. Florida 34, Auburn 27
McKenzie Milton threw a pair of touchdown passes and ran for 116 yards with another TD, leading No. 10 Central Florida to a Peach Bowl win over No. 7 Auburn ( 10- 4) in Atlanta that capped the Knights’ 13- 0 season. Antwan Collier’s interception in the end zone with 24 seconds left sealed it.