2017 College Football Playoff Championship: Everything You Need To Know Before Kickoff
A national championship rematch awaits us on Monday night as No. 1 Alabama faces No. 2 Clemson in the College Football Playoff championship game.
The Crimson Tide has a chance to add to its dynasty with a fifth national championship in eight seasons while the Tigers hope to knock off the king of college football to win the school's first title in 35 years.
Here's everything you need to know about the showdown in Tampa.
No. 1 Alabama (14-0, 8-0 SEC) vs No. 2 Clemson (13-1, 7-1 SEC)
When: Monday, January 9 at 7:00 PM/CT
Where: Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida
Weather: Temperatures might reach the 70s on the day of the game but will dip into the 50s during the game. Forecasts call for a clear night with light winds.
TV: ESPN (Play-by-play: Chris Fowler, color analyst: Kirk Herbstreit, sideline reporter: Samantha Ponder/Tom Rinaldi)
Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network (Play-by-play: Eli Gold, color analyst: Phil Savage, sideline reporter: Chris Stewart). Listen on 95.3 the Bear and Tide 102.9 in Tuscaloosa.
Spread: Alabama is a 6-point favorite in the Iron Bowl, according to Bovada.
Series History: Alabama and Clemson will meet for the 17th time in a series that dates back to 1900. The Crimson Tide owns a 13-3 lead including last year's national championship victory. Clemson shut out Alabama the first three times these teams played, but the Tide has reeled off 13 straight wins in the series.
Last Meeting: In one of the most entertaining national championships games of all-time, Alabama and Clemson went toe-to-toe for a thrilling 45-40 result in Glendale, Arizona. Special teams came up huge for the Crimson Tide with a surprise onside kick and a Kenyan Drake kickoff return for a touchdown both coming in the fourth quarter. O.J. Howard was named MVP after 208 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Clemson's Deshaun Watson made a claim for the award throwing for 405 yards and four touchdowns while rushing for another 73 yards.
Last Week: The Alabama offense produced its second-lowest output of the season in a 24-7 win over Washington in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. Quarterback Jalen Hurts completed just seven passes for 57 yards, but the Crimson Tide got a huge night from running back Bo Scarbrough. The Tuscaloosa native set a school bowl record with 180 yards rushing. The Crimson Tide defense allowed an early touchdown but locked down for the final three quarters. Washington would finish with its worst offensive game of the season (194 total yards).
The Tigers, meanwhile, stole the headlines in the semifinal round of the College Football Playoff with a 31-0 blowout of Ohio State in the Playstation Fiesta Bowl. Quarterback Deshaun Watson led the Clemson offensive with 316 total yards and three touchdowns, but the defense was the story in Glendale. It limited Ohio State to a season-low of 215 total yards and forced three turnovers in the win.