The game went back and forth in a closely-contested national championship game, but mistakes ultimately cost the Tigers the school's second title.
After disappointing semifinal contests, the national championship game lived up to the hype as the Clemson Tigers battled the Alabama Crimson Tide in a gritty 45-40 loss on Monday evening in Glendale.
When Heisman Trophy-winning running back Derrick Henry pushed his way in for a one-yard touchdown run on his 36th carry of the night as the clock ticked down towards one minute remaining in the fourth quarter, Alabama put the game out of reach after a back-and-forth contest.