No. 1 Clemson back from break, focused on ’Bama

CLEMSON, S.C. » This is Clemson coach Dabo Swinney’s favorite time of the year — his league champion Tigers 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, No. 1 CFP) 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 will 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 champions. 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 victory with a lastsecond TD to shock favored Alabama.

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 probably define this part of the decade in college football.