About the game

What: No. 1 Alabama (14-0) vs. No. 2 Clemson (14-0) in College Football Playoff championship game. When/where: 7 p.m. today; Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, Calif.

TV/radio: ESPN; 97.5 FM.

Line: Alabama by 5½.

Series: Alabama leads 14-3.

At stake: The winner of the fourth consecutive playoff meeting between the Crimson Tide and the Tigers will be the first major-college football team in the poll era, starting with the Associated Press poll in 1936, to finish 15-0. Alabama is looking for its second consecutive national title and sixth since 2009 under coach Nick Saban. Clemson is eyeing its third championship and second in three seasons under coach Dabo Swinney. The Tigers lost a classic title game to the Tide after the 2015 season before beating Alabama on a last-second touchdown for the 2016 crown. Key matchup: Clemson’s defensive line, led by All-Americans Clelin Ferrell and Christian Wilkins, vs. Alabama’s offensive line, led by All-American OT Jonah Williams and second-team All-American C Ross Pierschbacher. The Tigers are a key man down, with defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence suspended for failing an NCAA PED test. Still, they have enough talent to make things uncomfortable for Tide QB Tua Tagovailoa by applying pressure without blitzing. Williams and Pierschbacher are top-notch, but Clemson could have the advantage in one-on-one matchups against Alabama RT Jedrick Wills and LG Lester Cotton.

Players to watch: Clemson RB Travis Etienne — The sophomore is one of college football’s most explosive runners. The second-team All-American had 22 runs of at least 20 yards, second most in FBS. Alabama DT Quinnen Williams — Maybe the most dominant defensive player in college football this season. The All-American won the Outland Trophy as the country’s best interior lineman and had 18½ tackles for loss. The third-year sophomore likely will be one of the first players selected in the NFL draft if he declares after this season.