College football's newest rivalry resumes tonight when No. 1 Clemson takes on No. 4 Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.
The two teams met just once between the 1976 and 2014 seasons but are vying in the College Football Playoff for the third time in as many years. The difference is tonight's showdown in New Orleans takes place in a national semifinal after the Crimson Tide and Tigers split the past two encounters in the championship contest.
"We haven't competed against each other a lot," Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said Sunday during the final news conference before tonight's kickoff. "Then, all of a sudden, you have this three-game series that has happened at the highest level. To be honest with you, it probably won't be the last one.
"There will probably be more of these down the road, and I think that's great."
This is the fourth playoff appearance for Alabama since the four-team format was implemented in 2014, and it's the third for Clemson. Oklahoma is the only other program with multiple appearances, with the Sooners participating in their second playoff this afternoon with their semifinal showdown against Georgia in the Rose Bowl.
Sugar pick
Alabama looked decent but far from elite in November, when the Crimson Tide were able to subdue LSU and Mississippi State before losing at Auburn. Clemson was the better team a month ago, so can Tide coach Nick Saban work more magic with substantial time off? Oh yeah, this is Clemson, which under coach Dabo Swinney is one of the few programs in the sport that doesn’t cower at the sight of Crimson.› Prediction: Clemson 24, Alabama 17— David Paschall
Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban spoke after Swinney on Sunday and was asked if the two programs could keep meeting as Swinney suggested.
"It wouldn't be surprising to me," Saban said. "I'm not one to make predictions, but they have a lot of good players and a lot of good young players, and we have a lot of good players and a lot of good young players. Each year, you lose a part of your team. You have guys enter the draft. You have seniors who have done a good job for you, and you have guys who take on new roles the next season.
"You rebuild your team each and every year, and it's a totally new challenge. Hopefully we'll be able to have a team that can continue to compete at a very high level."
Neither Alabama nor Clemson, of course, is in need of rivals.
Auburn incurred a $250,000 fine from the Southeastern Conference when its fans stormed the field after the 26-14 Iron Bowl victory on Nov. 25, while LSU and Tennessee continue to bemoan losing streaks against the Tide that have reached seven and 11 games, respectively. Clemson has its state rivalry with South Carolina and its divisional rivalry with Florida State, with the Tigers having won the past three in the series after once losing 11 straight when Florida State joined the Atlantic Coast Conference in 1992.
Swinney, a former Crimson Tide receiver under head coach Gene Stallings, believes the Alabama-Clemson rivalry has meaning without the vitriol.
"I definitely think my background at Alabama plays a part," Swinney said. "A lot of people want to pull for Clemson, and this is an uncomfortable situation, because they're a little conflicted, so it's a unique rivalry from that standpoint. Alabama people respect good football, and they know we've got a good football team.
"At the end of the day, there is a healthy respect on both sides."
There will be new characters in tonight's meeting, most notably Clemson quarterback Kelly Bryant, who hopes to match the success predecessor Deshaun Watson had the past two matchups. Jalen Hurts is back at quarterback for the Crimson Tide, whose biggest question tonight could be at the inside linebacker spot that first was occupied by senior Shaun Dion Hamilton, then freshman Dylan Moses and now sophomore Mack Wilson.
Hamilton suffered a season-ending knee injury in the Nov. 4 win over LSU, while Moses sustained a foot injury when Alabama began its on-campus bowl practices.
"Those guys were both signal callers, and in no-huddle defenses, those guys are pretty important," Saban said. "Mack doesn't have a lot of experience doing that, but I'm sure he'll do a good job in the game."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.