Clemson Upsets Alabama in College Football National Championship Game

Clemson pulled off an upset 35-31 victory over arch-rival Alabama in the college football National Championship game Monday night in Tampa.

The two teams faced off for the championship for the second consecutive year but the Clemson Tigers managed to hand Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide their first loss of the season.

Alabama took an early 7-0 lead over the Tigers, attempting to do what no FBS school has done in the 80 years of the poll era: win five national championships in eight seasons.

The Tigers took their first lead of the game with just 4:38 minutes left on the clock thanks to a TD from Wayne Gallman, and then rolled over the Tide with a two-yard pass from Deshaun Watson to Hunter Renfrow. Heisman runner-up Watson finished with 418 passing yards and three touchdowns.

Last January, it was Alabama that was celebrating after a 45-40 victory over Clemson in the 2016 national championship game from University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

Who’s laughing now (aside from Lane Kiffin)?

See the celebratory — and sometimes gloating — tweets below.

Yup. It happened again. Unbeatable? #CFBChampionship #Clemson pic.twitter.com/YPEUQkejrD

— Doug Gottlieb (@GottliebShow) January 10, 2017

Deshaun Watson oozes respectability, class. Good passer, terrific weapon. Going to invigorate an NFL fan base soon. Happy for him. #Clemson

— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) January 10, 2017

Lived up to every last bit of the hype!!! Congrats #Clemson #nationalchampionship

— Will Packer (@willpowerpacker) January 10, 2017

Goodnight Alabama #RollTide #Clemson #NationalChampionship pic.twitter.com/xX4sN2bRTG

— Antwoin Monach (@AntwoinMonach) January 10, 2017

"…the @Nukdabomb…"

Ben Boulware. #Texans #Clemson pic.twitter.com/8G5IXK8wRl

— patrick (@PatDStat) January 10, 2017

Clemson's ability to hang in there after nearly getting KOd early is the ultimate example.of why coaches tell players, "just keep playing."

— Michael Wilbon (@RealMikeWilbon) January 10, 2017

Justin is happy. His Clemson Tigers came home with the Championship What a game! pic.twitter.com/ia72dacjzO

— Tony Dungy (@TonyDungy) January 10, 2017

The Clemson Tigers are National Champs! #ALLIN #nationalchampionship pic.twitter.com/7AFZs3yI1a

— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) January 10, 2017

Clemson just played a pretty lousy football game and still beat Saban. Saint Nick? Ain't Nick.

— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) January 10, 2017

https://twitter.com/danieltosh/status/818689267626934272

I blame Lane Kiffin going down to South Beach and partying w/ Grayson Allen for 'Bama's loss. (I'm so tired right now, things a bit hazy)

— Andrew Perloff (@andrewperloff) January 10, 2017

Congratulations to Lane Kiffin for an undefeated season. #NationalChampionship

— Steve Helwick (@s_helwick) January 10, 2017