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Gutsy play helps Tide beat Clemson 45-40 for national title

Alabama's Derrick Henry gives a Heisman pose after rushing for a touchdown during the second half of the NCAA college football playoff championship game against Clemson Monday, Jan. 11, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Alabama's Derrick Henry gives a Heisman pose after rushing for a touchdown during the second half of the NCAA college football playoff championship game against Clemson Monday, Jan. 11, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Alabama's Derrick Henry gives a Heisman pose after rushing for a touchdown during the second half of the NCAA college football playoff championship game against Clemson Monday, Jan. 11, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

By Associated Press 3 min read

GLENDALE, Arizona (AP) – Alabama needed it all to win the toughest national title game it had ever played during the Nick Saban dynasty. All of its power. All of its speed.

Even one gutsy trick.

Derrick Henry, O.J. Howard and Kenyan Drake hit No. 1 Clemson with huge plays, and Alabama outlasted the dynamic play of dual-threat quarterback Deshaun Watson to win the College Football Playoff championship 45-40 on Monday night.

The Crimson Tide (14-1) won its three previous championship game appearances in runaway fashion. This game was an instant classic – and it turned on maybe the boldest call of Saban’s career.

With 10:34 left in the fourth quarter and Alabama having just tied the game with a short field goal, Saban took a gamble to try to keep the ball away from Watson and the Tigers. He called for a high-bouncing onside kick that Tide defensive Marlon Humphrey caught over the shoulder at midfield.