Deshaun Watson did it. Clemson did it, too.
That’s everything you wanted. Watson’s two-yard touchdown pass to Hunter Renfrow with one second left on the clock gave No. 2 Clemson a 35-31 victory against No. 1 Alabama in the College Football Playoff Championship game at Raymond James Stadium on Monday.
Watson did it. He provided that Vince Young-like moment everybody was waiting for and knocked off the defending national champion on the biggest stage possible. Watson gave the Tigers their first national championship since 1981. He put on a show in the second half and finished with 420 yards and three TD passes and 43 rushing yards and another TD.
GEAR: Get your Clemson championship apparel hereThat’s 463 total yards on top of the 478 total yards he put up in the 45-40 loss to the Crimson Tide in last year’s championship game.
That’s 941 total yards, but that doesn’t show just how far this program has come under Dabo Swinney. Six straight years of 10 or more wins. Constant doubt. Constant talk about “Clemsoning.” Constant disrespect, erased by the combination of Swinney and Watson, who have instilled a constant confidence in the program.
A large Tigers contingent was waiting for this moment.
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They got that in spectacular fashion. Watson had 153 passing yards at halftime and was still picking at that nasty Crimson Tide defense, but he was just getting started. Watson took off on a run on third-and-15 in the third quarter and was spun like a helicopter a la John Elway on a hit by Alabama’s Minkah Fitzpatrick. Watson completed 11 of 13 passes for 137 yards in the third quarter, and the Tigers cut the lead to 24-21 three plays into the fourth quarter.
Then, the last three drives provided what we were waiting for. Watson lofted a pass to Mike Williams, who juggled the ball before falling with it for a 26-yard gain. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty put Clemson in the red zone, and Watson sprawled near the pylon on a 15-yard run that almost ended with a TD. Wayne Gallman scored on the next play to give the Tigers their first lead.
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Of course, Alabama true freshman Jalen Hurts nearly stole the show with a championship-type drive that offered a promise of what’s to come with a 30-yard touchdown run. Hurts, however, left 2:07 on the clock.
Watson went to work one last time. He hit Williams for a 24-yard gain. He hit Jordan Leggett for a 17-yard gain across the middle. Clemson had first-and-goal on the nine-yard line with nine seconds left and went for it. Williams drew a pass interference, and Watson and Renfrow did the rest.
There is the moment college football has been waiting for. Watson — like Young in the 2006 Rose Bowl — toppled a dynasty and gave a program looking for a national championship exactly what it wanted. He gave fans still not sure what to make of the four-team playoff exactly what they wanted, too. Watson also gave a tease for what’s to come in the NFL. He’s a winner, and that’s going to show up.
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Thrilling play after thrilling play after thrilling play with a buzzer beater.
Watson did it. Clemson did it, too.
There’s no doubt about it now.
