The basic numbers are simple.
Alabama’s bid to win a 17th recognized college football national championship and a fifth in eight years evaporated when Clemson pulled out a 35-31 triumph on Deshaun Watson’s 2-yard pass from Hunter Renfrow with one second remaining Monday night in Tampa, Fla.
Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban must wait another year to try and match Paul “Bear” Bryant’s six career national championships, but there are some other stats and facts that may not be quite as familiar after what transpired inside Raymond James Stadium:
0 – National championships for the top-seeded team through the first three seasons of the four-team playoff. Ohio State won it after the 2014 regular season as the fourth seed, while Alabama in 2015 and Clemson this past season were seeded second.
1 – Number of rushes and number of passes by Alabama receiver ArDarius Stewart against the Tigers. Stewart’s second-quarter run picked up 25 yards, and his fourth-quarter throw to tight end O.J. Howard gained 24.
2 – False-start penalties by Crimson Tide left tackle Cam Robinson immediately following fumble recoveries by teammate Ryan Anderson. Alabama failed to get a first down after either first-and-15 situations.
3 – Occasions in which Alabama has finished No. 2 in the Associated Press poll. The Crimson Tide were second only to Army in 1945, Notre Dame in 1977 and now Clemson.
4 – Wins by Clemson this past season over the previous seven national champions. The Tigers beat Auburn (2010), Florida State (2013), Ohio State (2014) and Alabama (2009, 2011-12 and 2015).
5 – Alabama’s postseason losses to current Atlantic Coast Conference teams against five wins. The Crimson Tide previously lost the Sugar Bowl after the 1945 season to Duke, the Sugar after the 1989 season to Miami, the Fiesta Bowl after the 1990 season to Louisville, and the Music City Bowl after the 1998 season to Virginia Tech.
6 – Career fumble recoveries by Anderson following his two Monday night, with the career total matching Mike DuBose for second in program history.
9 – Championship games Saban had won consecutively. Alabama was victorious in SEC title games in 2009, ’12, ’14, ’15 and ’16, as well as in national championship games in 2009, ’11, ’12 and ’15.
10 – Punts by JK Scott against Clemson, which was a career high. The Crimson Tide’s 2-of-15 performance on third downs certainly factored into Scott’s busy night.
13 – Consecutive wins Alabama had enjoyed at Clemson’s expense. The Tigers won the first three series meetings during the 1900, ’04 and ’05 seasons but needed a century, a decade and a year to earn their fourth triumph over the Tide.
15 – Victories by the University of Pennsylvania in 1897, which remains the sport’s unmatched single-season record for wins.
36 – Touchdowns that Alabama freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts was responsible for this season, with his 36th the run from 30 yards out with 2:07 left to give the Tide a 31-28 lead. His score broke Alabama’s single-season mark of 35 held by Blake Sims, the Tide’s quarterback in 2014.
97 – Wins out of 97 opportunities by the Crimson Tide under Saban when leading by double-digits entering the fourth quarter. Now make that out of 98 chances, because Alabama took a 24-14 lead into the final 15 minutes before Clemson pulled within 24-21 a minute later.
186 – Career extra points by former Calhoun (Ga.) High School standout kicker Adam Griffith, which is a Tide record.
314 – Combined receiving yardage compiled by Howard in two title games against Clemson.
954 – Rushing yards this season by Hurts, who entered Monday having already surpassed Steadman Shealy’s program mark for quarterbacks (791 in 1979).
1,269 – Football games in Alabama history, with this last one certain to be discussed and relived more than most.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.