It was a cold January night in Glendale, Arizona, and for most of the game, it looked like Nick Saban was going to do what Nick Saban always does. He was going to grind a team into dust. But then, things got weird. Clemson wasn't supposed to be that good. Or maybe they were, but Alabama was just... Alabama.
If you are looking for a quick answer, here it is: Alabama won the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship. They beat Clemson 45-40.
But honestly? That score barely tells half the story. It was one of those games where you remember exactly where you were when O.J. Howard—a guy who had basically been a ghost in the Crimson Tide’s passing game all season—suddenly started running wide open through the secondary like nobody had ever seen a tight end before. It was a masterclass in coaching, a showcase of generational talent, and, quite frankly, a game that changed the trajectory of the ACC forever.
The Night Alabama Won the National Championship 2016
People forget how much pressure was on Alabama going into that game. They had lost to Ole Miss earlier in the season. The "dynasty is dead" headlines were already being written by columnists who probably should have known better than to bet against Saban.
Clemson was the undefeated #1 seed. They had Deshaun Watson, who was playing at a level that felt almost illegal. He threw for 405 yards. He ran for another 73. He was the best player on the field, and yet, he walked off it a loser. Why? Because Nick Saban, the man known for being the most conservative, "process-oriented" human being on the planet, decided to gamble his entire legacy on an onside kick.
It happened in the fourth quarter. The game was tied at 24.
Alabama had just kicked a field goal. Usually, you kick it deep, trust your NFL-caliber defense, and wait for a mistake. Instead, Saban signaled for the "pop" kick. Adam Griffith chipped the ball into the air, Marlon Humphrey caught it over his shoulder like a seasoned wide receiver, and the momentum in University of Phoenix Stadium shifted so fast you could practically hear the oxygen leave the Clemson sideline.
Two plays later, Jake Coker found O.J. Howard for a 51-yard touchdown. That was the game. Well, it wasn't the game—Clemson kept fighting because Dabo Swinney has those kids convinced they can breathe fire—but it was the moment everyone realized Alabama wasn't going to be bullied.
Breaking Down the Stats (The Real Ones)
If you look at the box score, it’s a mess of explosive plays.
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Alabama’s Heisman winner, Derrick Henry, was a literal tank. He carried the ball 36 times for 158 yards and three touchdowns. He opened the scoring with a 50-yard sprint where he looked like a grown man playing against middle schoolers. But the real MVP—even if the trophy went elsewhere—was arguably the Alabama special teams unit. Kenyan Drake’s 95-yard kickoff return touchdown in the fourth quarter was the final dagger. You can't give up a surprise onside kick and a return touchdown and expect to beat a Saban-led team. You just can't.
Deshaun Watson’s performance was historic. He broke the record for most total yards in a national title game (a record he would later break again, funny enough). He made Minkah Fitzpatrick and Eddie Jackson look human. But football is a cruel sport. You can have 478 yards of offense and still lose because a tight end got lost in coverage three times.
Why the 2016 Championship Still Matters
We talk about this game because it was the beginning of the greatest rivalry in the modern era of the sport. Before this, Clemson was "Clemsoning." They were the team that always found a way to trip over their own shoelaces in big moments.
After who won the national championship 2016, that narrative died.
Clemson proved they could go toe-to-toe with the SEC’s gold standard. They didn't win, but they earned a type of respect that changed their recruiting forever. Suddenly, five-star kids from California and Georgia didn't just see Clemson as a fun school with a slide in their facility; they saw them as a place where you could play for titles.
The Coaching Chess Match
Lane Kiffin was the offensive coordinator for Alabama at the time. Love him or hate him, the guy is an offensive wizard. He realized early on that Clemson’s defensive backs were playing aggressive, man-to-man coverage. So, what did he do? He used O.J. Howard as a decoy for three quarters and then unleashed him on "pop" passes and corner routes when the Tigers’ safeties started biting on the run.
On the other side, Brent Venables—then the defensive coordinator for Clemson—was dialing up pressures that were actually getting to Jake Coker. Alabama’s offensive line was legendary, but Clemson’s front four was terrifying. Shaq Lawson and Kevin Dodd were living in the backfield. Dodd had three sacks by himself.
It was a clash of styles that felt like a bridge between the "old" way of winning (power run, elite defense) and the "new" way (spread offense, mobile QBs, high-scoring shootouts). Alabama won by embracing both.
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Common Misconceptions About 2016
Wait, which 2016 are we talking about? This is where people get tripped up on Google all the time.
The game played in January 2016 crowned the champion for the 2015 season.
The game played in January 2017 crowned the champion for the 2016 season.
In the 2016 calendar year, Alabama was the king. But if you are talking about the "2016 Season" National Championship (which happened in early 2017), Clemson actually got their revenge in a rematch for the ages. It’s a weird quirk of the college football calendar. When people search for "who won the national championship 2016," they are almost always looking for the Alabama vs. Clemson thriller that ended with Saban hoisting his fifth trophy.
Key Players Who Went Pro
The amount of NFL talent on that field was staggering. Just look at some of the names:
- Alabama: Derrick Henry (Titans), Calvin Ridley (Falcons/Jaguars), Marlon Humphrey (Ravens), Minkah Fitzpatrick (Steelers), Ryan Kelly (Colts), A'Shawn Robinson (Rams).
- Clemson: Deshaun Watson (Texans/Browns), Mike Williams (Chargers), Hunter Renfrow (Raiders), Shaq Lawson (Bills), Mackensie Alexander (Vikings).
It wasn't just a college game; it was a Sunday afternoon preview. These weren't "system" players. They were future All-Pros.
How Alabama Pulled It Off
It came down to three specific plays.
First, the Derrick Henry 50-yarder. It established that Alabama didn't need to pass to score. Clemson had to respect the box.
Second, the onside kick. This is the one Saban will be remembered for. It wasn't a "desperation" move. It was a calculated strike. Saban noticed Clemson’s return team was squeezing toward the middle of the field. He saw a hole. He took it.
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Third, Kenyan Drake’s return. Clemson had just scored to make it 31-28. They had the momentum. They were loud. The crowd was shaking. Then Drake found a seam, hit the sideline, and did a literal diving touchdown that ended any hope of a quick Clemson comeback.
Clemson actually outgained Alabama in total yardage, 550 to 473. They had more first downs (31 to 18). They won the time of possession. In almost every statistical category, Clemson was the better team. But Alabama won the explosive play battle, and in the modern era, that is usually the only stat that matters.
The Deshaun Watson Factor
We have to talk about Watson. Honestly, he was a magician. He was throwing passes into windows that didn't exist. There was one play where he escaped three different Alabama defenders, rolled left, and fired a strike to Hunter Renfrow while falling down.
Renfrow, by the way, was a walk-on. This guy was a former track kid who nobody recruited, and he caught two touchdowns against the most feared secondary in the country. It’s the kind of "only in college football" story that makes the sport great.
Even in a loss, Watson proved that a truly elite dual-threat quarterback is the only thing that can consistently break a Saban defense. It’s a blueprint that teams like LSU (with Joe Burrow) and Florida would try to replicate for years afterward.
What You Should Take Away From This Game
If you're looking for a lesson in sports or even just a refresher on history, the 2016 National Championship is a case study in calculated risk.
Nick Saban didn't win because he had better players—though he did have a lot of them. He won because he was willing to be unconventional when the game was on the line. He didn't wait for Clemson to make a mistake; he forced the issue.
Next Steps for the Football Fan:
- Watch the highlights: Seriously, go to YouTube and search for "2016 National Championship highlights." The O.J. Howard catches alone are worth it.
- Check the 2017 rematch: If you want to see the other side of the coin, watch the finish of the Clemson vs. Alabama game from the following year. It’s arguably even better.
- Study the "Pop" Kick: If you’re a coach or just a nerd for strategy, look at the film of that onside kick. It’s a perfect example of identifying a weakness in a special teams alignment.
- Track the NFL careers: Look up where these guys are now. It’s wild to see how many of them became the faces of their respective NFL franchises.
Alabama’s 2016 victory wasn't just another trophy in the case. It was the peak of the Derrick Henry era and the moment Nick Saban proved he could win a high-scoring track meet just as easily as a 10-7 defensive struggle. It was a game of inches, a game of gambles, and ultimately, a game that solidified Alabama as the undisputed kings of the decade.