2017 College Football Playoff National Championship: Alabama vs. Clemson

2017 College Football National Championship Alabama and Clemson

As far as college football goes, there is nothing bigger than the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship. On Monday, January 9, 2017, it will be between Alabama Crimson Tide and Clemson Tigers at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

Head Coaches and Mild Alabama Offensive Coordinator Controversy

Nick Saban coaches the Alabama Crimson Tide, and Dabo Swinney coaches the Clemson Tigers. Some controversy may be said of the Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin, who accepted a job as the head coach of Florida-Atlantic University, and will not be on the field for this National Championship game. His replacement is Steve Sarkisian, who will be coaching on the sidelines, and this is the first time he has called plays since 2014 and being clean from alcohol abuse. Sarkisian took a break from coaching to undergo rehab for substance/alcohol abuse. The Los Angeles times has reported many alcohol incidents during his head coaching at Washington. In comparison, when Kirby Smart was announced as Georgia's head coach, he finished out the post-season play as Alabama's defensive coordinator before assuming his new position at Georgia.

2017 College Football Playoff National Championship: Alabama vs. Clemson

Monday night's game is a rematch between two talented college football programs. As Dabo Swinney said after his win over Ohio State, Clemson has set itself up as an elite football program. And most fans of college football would agree that Alabama is already the best college football program in the nation, seeing post season play almost every year, thanks to the coaching from Nick Saban, and the great athletes that are recruited by his program.

As you can see below, Nick Saban and Dabo Swinney are both in the top three for coaches with the best win percentage for coaches at the same school since 2008 (ESPN).

Statistic: If Alabama wins on Monday night against Clemson, it will be the first team in college football history to finish a football season 15-0 (wins/losses). Source: SEC Country

Alabama Crimson Tide's Biggest Threat is Deshaun Watson

Alabama's biggest threat in Monday night's game is the Clemson quarterback, Deshaun Watson. Last year, he was able to score 40 in Clemson's loss to Alabama. Deshaun was able to throw for 405 yards, with only 1 interception, and he ran the ball for 73 yards.

Alabama's defensive play forces the opposing team's quarterback of playing a perfect game, and Deshaun Watson is capable of playing great under pressure.

Steve Sarkisian needs to run the ball more than Lane Kiffin

While Jalen Hurts has been playing exceptionally well for a true freshman quarterback, Alabama fans are voicing that they want to see Steve Sarkisian run more plays that involve Bo Scarbrough, Damien Harris, and Joshua Jacobs in running the ball down the field.

The College Football Playoff Championship: Oregon vs. Ohio State

Oregon vs. Ohio State: The Championship Game is Set

On January 12, 2015, Oregon and Ohio State face off in the first College Football Playoff Championship since being created.  Oregon has never won a National Championship, nor has ever beaten Ohio State.  Can Oregon end their first College Football Playoff with a National title?

Marcus Mariota (Oregon QB) won the Heisman and had 40 touchdowns in the 2014 college football season

Oregon vs. Ohio State: A Test of Two Quarterbacks

Ohio State has made it to the National Championship game with their third quarterback, Cardale Jones, after the other two were been injured during the regular College Football season.  Oregon is coming to the game with the Heisman winner, Marcus Mariota.  Marcus Mariota is considered more experienced by far, but Cardale Jones is considered the new rising star, rising to success from third-string obscurity.

Cardale Jones (Ohio State QB) has a 159 passer rating

High-Powered Offenses Win Games: Oregon vs. Ohio State

Oregon averages 47.2 points per game, while Ohio State averages 45 points per game.  This is a pretty impressive statistic.

Oregon vs. Ohio State both have high powered offenses

The Biggest Statistic of Oregon vs. Ohio State

Probably the biggest statistic that everyone is pointing out is that Ohio State is 8-0 vs. Oregon in all-time games.  Oregon has not yet beaten Ohio State in a College Football game.

Ohio State is 8-0 in all time games against Oregon

Both Oregon and Ohio State Beat Very Good College Football Teams in Playoff

Oregon beat Florida State on January 1, 2015 in the Rose Bowl.  Florida State was the defending National Champions from last year's College Football season.  FSU wanted to go to the National Championship game again, but Oregon ripped away any hope of this happening in post-season play.

Ohio State beat #1 ranked Alabama in the Sugar Bowl on January 1, 2015. Alabama has won the National Championship three times since 2009, making them no stranger to the National Championship game.

Urban Meyer won a National Championship in 2006 and 2008 with the Florida Gators, and is going for his third National Championship title with Ohio State.

The Winner of the Oregon vs. Ohio State National Championship was Ohio State on January 12, 2015. Ohio State 42, Oregon 20.

No.1 Ranked Alabama Loses to No. 15 Texas A&M

Texas A&M football players celebrating a touchdown in Alabama endzone

The unthinkable happened to the Alabama Crimson Tide on 11/10/12. They lost a football game. All Alabama fans are in a panic, because until now, we had our eyes set on a National Championship.

Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M quarterback is looking like a hero as he threw 2 touchdowns against the behemoth, Alabama. But who said the football giant couldn't be slayed? David slayed Goliath with only a sling and a rock.

Most importantly, this was probably Alabama's last competitive team of the season with the Texas A&M Aggies. The only games remaining after this one was with Western Carolina and then Auburn. Auburn has the worst record in years, and are having trouble beating their own practice team. I'm sure this loss to Texas A&M gives Auburn some hope, considering that Gene Chizik's job is on the line.

After this game, the Alabama Crimson Tide are now (9-1), but don't count them out.

You must remember that last year, Alabama lost 1 game to the LSU Tigers, skipped the SEC Conference game completely, played LSU again, and won the National Championship.

Can Alabama pull off something like that again?

We will see.

One thing is for certain. Oregon will most likely become the new number 1 team, as Notre Dame and Kansas State join the Ducks as the only undefeated teams left.

This is no doubt a sad day for Alabama fans as they lose their first game in a long stretch of W's.

SEC fans everywhere are now scratching their heads wondering why we even invited Texas A&M into our conference. I know A.J. McCarron is probably crying about the loss (see pics) in the locker room. He has a right to cry if he wants to.

There's always next year for Nick Saban, because this one is starting to look like a loss.