Clemson claims championship
Deshaun Watson was the best player on the field and Dabo Swinney coached the best game.
That was the difference as Monday night bled into Tuesday morning and the Clemson Tigers won their first national title since 1981. It, by almost every measure, was a thrilling game.
Watson leading the Tigers to a title-winning touchdown with one second left on the clock.
He was amazing, especially in the second half. He finished 36-of-56 for 420 yards and three scores. It was more than likely better than the numbers, too, since he was surviving the hysteria and blitzes and carnage around him. It was the rarity, a Godfather II version of a football rematch in which the sequel was every bit as good and entertaining and thrilling as the first.