Alabama Football vs. Clemson Postgame Notes
1/12/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
Recap | Final Stats | Photo Gallery 
GAME CAPTAINS: Alabama's captains for the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship Game against Clemson were seniors Jake Coker, Ryan Kelly and Reggie Ragland, along with junior Derrick Henry. The Tigers won the opening toss and elected to defer to the second half, with the Crimson Tide receiving the ball to start tonight's contest.
SERIES HISTORY: Tonight's game marked the 16th meeting between Alabama and Clemson in the history of the two programs. With the win, the Crimson Tide owns a 13-3 advantage in the series. The Tigers won the initial matchup in 1900, 35-0, and proceeded to shut out the Tide in the next two meetings. The Crimson Tide has won the last 13 meetings, including seven by shutout.
ALABAMA EARNS 16th NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP: The 45-40 victory over Clemson gave second-ranked Crimson Tide its 16th national championship. Alabama has won or claimed national championships in 1925, 1926, 1930, 1934, 1941, 1961, 1965, 1966, 1973, 1978, 1979, 1992, 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2015. The combined record of the 16 national championship teams is 184-9-2.
Nick Saban EARNS FIFTH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP: With the win over Clemson, Alabama head coach Nick Saban earned the fifth national championship of his head coaching career. Saban's five titles ties former Alabama head coach Paul "Bear" Bryant for the NCAA lead as the only two coaches in history to claim five total titles (as determined by the Associated Press). Bryant won six national titles as head coach of the Crimson Tide from 1958-82, including the Coaches Poll.
BEATING THE BEST: Since 2007, Alabama owns a 40-13 (.755) mark against the Associated Press top 25, including a 22-7 (.759) record against AP top-10 teams following the win over No. 1 Clemson in the College Football Player National Championship Game. This season, the Tide faced eight teams ranked in the AP preseason poll, the most ranked opponents of any team in the nation. In 2015, the Crimson Tide faced nine opponents ranked at game time and went 8-1 in those contests. Alabama finished 5-2 in 2014 against opponents ranked in the AP top 25 after going 3-2 in 2013 and 5-1 in 2012. The Tide held a 4-1 mark vs. top-25 teams in 2011 and went 5-3 against the AP top 25 in 2010.
CHAMPIONSHIP SUCCESS: With the win over Clemson, Alabama head coach Nick Saban has won his last eight "championship" games with wins over Florida (2009), Georgia (2012), Missouri (2014) and Florida (2015) in the SEC Championship Game and victories over Texas (2009), LSU (2011), Notre Dame (2012) and Clemson (2015) in national championship contests. Overall, Saban is 11-1 in those games at Alabama and LSU with six SEC titles and five national titles.
DOME SWEET DOME: With the win inside University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., the Crimson Tide is 21-7-1 (.741) in domed stadiums, including an 12-2 mark since 2009 and 13-4 during head coach Nick Saban's tenure. Alabama opened the 2015 season in an indoor venue, defeating Wisconsin, 35-17, in the AdvoCare Classic at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, before defeating Florida inside the Georgia Dome in Atlanta to claim the program's 25th SEC title, and the 38-0 win over Michigan State to advance to the national championship game. The Tide had three appearances in domes in 2014, including the season opener against West Virginia and the SEC Championship versus Missouri - both of which were in Atlanta - and the season finale against Ohio State in the Allstate Sugar Bowl inside the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.
NEUTRAL SITES: With the win over Clemson in Glendale, Ariz., Alabama is 80-48-4 (.621) in neutral site contests. The list includes all Alabama-Auburn games not played on campus, including Legion Field from 1948-88. UA kicked off the 2015 season in Arlington, Texas, for the AdvoCare Classic against Wisconsin, defeated Florida in Atlanta, Ga., for the 2015 SEC Championship Game, and earned a 38-0 shutout win over Michigan State at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, for the Cotton Bowl Classic. The Tide played three neutral site games a season ago, opening the year with a 33-23 win over West Virginia in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game in Atlanta. In the postseason, UA claimed an SEC Championship with its 42-13 win over Missouri in Atlanta, and then ended the year with a 42-35 loss to Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl. The Crimson Tide is 15-4 in neutral site games during head coach Nick Saban's tenure at Alabama.
SABAN IN NEUTRAL SITE CONTESTS: With the win over Clemson in the 2016 CFP National Championship Game, Nick Saban owns a 22-10 (.688) overall mark in games played at a neutral site, including regular season and postseason games. While at Alabama, he has put together a 17-5 (.773) mark in neutral site contests. He owned a 0-3 mark to start his career at Michigan State before improving upon that mark with a 5-2 record while at LSU.
5-3 UNDER SABAN WHEN TIED AT THE HALF: Alabama entered halftime tied up with Clemson, 14-14, before going on to a 45-40 victory. Under head coach Nick Saban, the Crimson Tide is 5-3 when tied at halftime. The Crimson Tide's five wins under Saban when tied at the halfway point were: at LSU in 2008 (27-21), at Auburn in 2009 (26-21), against Tennessee in 2011 (37-6), versus the Volunteers this season (19-14) and Monday night's 45-40 win over Clemson.
ALABAMA'S TV?RECORD: Alabama's win over Clemson in the College Football Playoff National Championship with a 239-131-4 (.644) all-time record in 374 televised games (not including pay-per-view, tape-delayed or closed circuit telecasts).
JACKSON EARNS DEFENSIVE MVP HONORS: Junior strong safety Eddie Jackson earned Defensive Player of the Game honors in the CFP National Championship Game victory over Clemson. Jackson's performance (three tackles and a key interception) capped off a season in which he excelled at his new position. Formerly a cornerback, Jackson was moved to safety starting in 2015. Since the move, he collected a team-leading six interceptions, eclipsing his previous career total of two through 18 games. Jackson added 230 yards on the picks, including two touchdowns for scores against Georgia on a 51-yard return for six and at Texas A&M on Oct. 17 for 93 yards. His 230 yards on six picks this season are a UA record for return yards in a season. The previous high was 163 by Hootie Ingram in 1952 on 10 interceptions. Jackson ranked second in the nation in return yards, and tied for the national lead in returns for touchdowns along with teammate Minkah Fitzpatrick. This season, Jackson has notched 46 tackles, while adding two pass breakups and one forced fumble as well as a fumble recovery.
FORCING TURNOVERS: Against Clemson, Alabama won the turnover margin by a 1-0 margin (+1). In the 12 games since losing the turnover battle, 5-0 (-5), and falling to Ole Miss, Alabama has turned the tide in regards to turnovers. Since the loss to Ole Miss, the Tide is plus-12 in turnovers, having forced 22 total - 17 interceptions, 5 fumbles - in those 12 games. The Crimson Tide forced 27 turnovers in 2015, which led the SEC. Alabama's 19 interceptions on the season led the SEC, while the team's 442 return yards led the nation while the four pick-sixes ranked second in the NCAA.
2015 DEFENSE MOVES UP SEASON SACKS LIST: The Alabama defense recorded two sacks in the win over Clemson to extend the 2015 season total to 49. The 49 sacks is the third-most in Alabama history. The next in line is 50 by the 1992 squad with the Alabama all-time mark being 60 by the 1988 team.
HOWARD EARNS OFFENSIVE MVP HONORS: Crimson Tide tight end O.J. Howard set an Alabama single-game record for receiving yards by a tight end in a game with 208 yards and 2 touchdowns on 5 catches against Clemson in the CFP National Championship Game. Howard's yardage also is the most by any Alabama player in a bowl game (old record: 178 by Ray Perkins vs. Nebraska in the 1967 Sugar Bowl). Howard's 53-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter matched his career-long reception. His two touchdowns in the game set a new single-game career best as well. Howard entered the Clemson game with 33 catches for 394 yards without a touchdown this season.
RECORD-BREAKING NIGHT FOR HENRY: Heisman Trophy-winning running back Derrick Henry capped his monumental 2015-16 season in impressive form in the 45-40 win over Clemson, rushing for 158 yards and three touchdowns against the Tigers. It was Henry's 10th 100-yard rushing performance of the 2015 season, which would be a school record. The record of nine in a season was set by Mark Ingram in 2009 and matched by Trent Richardson in 2011 and Henry this year. It marked the 16th 100-yard rushing performance of Henry's career, also setting a school record. The record of 15 was set by Bobby Humphrey (1985-88), matched by Shaun Alexander (1996-99), T.J. Yeldon (2012-14) and Henry. Henry's ended the night with 3,591 rushing yards for his career and 2,219 yards for the season. Henry broke the school career rushing yards record on a 2-yard run with 9:30 left in the third quarter. That broke the record of 3,565 yards by Shaun Alexander (1996-99). His three rushing touchdowns ties the school career mark of 42 (Mark Ingram, 2008-10) and extended his season record to 28. The 36 rushing attempts by Henry set a new record for an Alabama player and his 158 yards is fourth-best in a bowl game by a Tide player. Henry's three touchdowns rushing ties the Alabama bowl record (Shaun Alexander vs. Michigan, 2000 Orange Bowl).
COKER SETS CAREER-HIGH FOR PASSING YARDS: Quarterback Jake Coker threw for a career-best 335 yards and two touchdowns in the CFP National Championship Game victory over Clemson. Coker did not throw an interception in the game while setting a single-game career-best for passing yardage in the win. Coker completed 16-of-25 pass attempts against the Tigers, including plays of 61 and 53 and 51 yards to tight end O.J. Howard, a 38-yarder to wide receiver ArDarius Stewart on a crucial play in the fourth period, and a 29-yarder to wide receiver Richard Mullaney early in the game.
Derrick Henry VS. RANKED TEAMS: Derrick Henry had an incredible 2015 season, but his play against the nine ranked opponents Alabama faced - No. 20 Wisconsin, No. 15 Ole Miss, No. 8 Georgia, No. 9 Texas A&M, No. 4 LSU, No. 20 Mississippi State, No. 18 Florida, No. 3 Michigan State and No. 1 Clemson - was truly remarkable. Henry rushed for 166.6 yards per game (1,499 yards) against ranked teams, with eight of the nine games over 125 yards and three over 200 yards (236 at A&M; 210 vs. LSU; 204 at Mississippi State). He has 255 carries against ranked teams for a 5.88 yards per carry average and 18 touchdowns.
HENRY REACHING THE END ZONE CONSISTENTLY: Derrick Henry's three touchdowns runs in the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship moved his consecutive games with a touchdown streak 20, currently the longest active streak in the nation, and the longest by an SEC player in the past 20 years (eclipsing Tim Tebow's streak of 14 games from 2006-07). The streak is also the longest in Alabama history, with the previous high being 10 by Terry Davis across the 1971 and 1972 seasons from Nov. 6, 1971-Oct. 21, 1972. The last time Henry failed to notch a score was in the LSU game on Nov. 8, 2014. His plunge into the end zone set his season total at 28, a Southeastern Conference record, passing the total of 23 that was previously shared by Tim Tebow (Florida), Tre Mason (Auburn).
MORE HENRY RECORDS: Derrick Henry rushed for 2,219 yards (396 carries) and 28 touchdowns through 15 games to claim the Southeastern Conference record for yards in a season and Alabama single-season record in both yards and scores. The SEC record was previously held by Herschel Walker of Georgia, who rushed for 1,891 yards on 385 carries in the 1981 season. Both UA totals were owned by Trent Richardson in 2011, when Richardson collected 21 touchdowns and 1,679 yards on 283 carries. Henry is currently averaging 147.2 yards per game and 1.8 scores per contest. Henry owns the Southeastern Conference record for scores in a season, eclipsing the previous total of 23 that was shared by Tim Tebow (Florida) and Tre Mason (Auburn). Henry's 75-yard performance in Arlington made him the 25th back in NCAA history to rush for 2,000 or more yards in a single season.
HENRY PASSING THE CENTURY MARK: Derrick Henry finished the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship Game with 158 yards, the 16th time in his career, and marked his 10th 100-plus game this season. The 10 this season is the most in Crimson Tide history, passing Trent Richardson (2011) and Mark Ingram (2009) who shared the previous record of nine 100-yard games in a single season in UA history. His 16 career games is also an Alabama all-time mark the all-time mark, passing the previous high which was held by Shaun Alexander (1996-99) and Bobby Humphrey (1985-88). Henry amassed 189 yards against Florida in the SEC Championship a week after collecting a career-high 279 yards on 46 carries against rival Auburn to close out the regular season. He rushed for 210 yards against LSU on Nov. 4, and notched 143 yards against Tennessee a week after going for a career-high 236 yards at Texas A&M. Prior to A&M, Henry rushed for 148 at Georgia on Oct. 3. He went for 127 against Ole Miss and 147 yards with three touchdowns against Wisconsin to open the 2015 campaign. Henry had a 141-yard performance against Missouri in the 2014 SEC Championship Game. He also went for 111 on 20 carries with a score against Florida in 2014 and 113 on 17 carries with a touchdown against West Virginia in that same year. As a freshman in 2013, Henry produced a Sugar Bowl game against Oklahoma that saw the first-year back go for 100 yards on eight attempts with a touchdown, while also collecting 111 yards on six carries with a score against Arkansas in 2013.
FIRST HALF POINTS: With Derrick Henry's 50-yard touchdown run on Alabama's second offensive drive of the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship, the Crimson Tide has scored in the first half of its last 118 games, the longest streak in the nation. The last time UA failed to score in the first half was on Sept. 29, 2007, when Alabama and Florida State headed into halftime in a scoreless tie. The Seminoles won that game, 21-14.
SCORING STREAK CONTINUES: With Derrick Henry's touchdown run from 50 yards out on the Crimson Tide's second offensive drive of tonight's College Football Playoff National Championship, Alabama has now scored in 198 consecutive games - the longest streak in program history.
ALABAMA RECOVERS ONSIDE KICK: With Alabama and Clemson tied in the fourth quarter, the Crimson Tide kicked an onside kick in the air with Marlon Humphrey making the catch to recover the ball for Alabama. The successful onside kick was Alabama's second of the season. The Crimson Tide also recovered an onside kick when Tony Brown hauled in the Adam Griffith kick against Ole Miss this season.
GRIFFITH CAPS SOLID SEASON: Junior placekicker Adam Griffith made one of two field goals against Clemson. For the season, Griffith made 23 of his 31 field goal attempts for a success rate of 74.2 percent. He missed his first four attempts to begin the year, but followed that by making eight straight before a blocked kick at Mississippi State (Nov. 14). Griffith was perfect on 62 attempts in 2015. Griffith's 131 points rank him second on the team for scoring behind only Derrick Henry.
