Alabama dynasty rolls into another champ game with Clemson
The top-ranked Crimson Tide face Clemson on Monday night in a College Football Playoff national championship game rematch.
A victory would give Alabama five national championships in eight seasons, a feat never completed at the highest level of the sport during the poll era.
A case can already be made that Alabama's current run is the greatest in college football history.
Another title would give Saban six during the poll era that began in 1936, including a BCS crown at LSU in 2003, matching Bryant for the most of any major-college coach.
[...] to be able to regroup and create that edge and meet those challenges, continue to manage your staff and your roster and compete at the highest level, I mean, it's just unbelievable what has happened.
Heisman Trophy runner-up Deshaun Watson said he knew when he decided to come to Clemson in 2012 he was joining a program poised for big things.
Mostly likely joining Watson as an early NFL draft entrant are receiver Mike Williams, a likely first-round pick, and leading rusher Wayne Gallman.
The Tigers also will say goodbye to senior center Jay Guillermo and three defensive players who earned All-America honors in defensive tackle Carlos Watkins (second-team), linebacker Ben Boulware (third team) and cornerback Cordrea Tankersley (third team).
Alabama has won 16 straight games against ranked opponents, matching Southern California's record streak during the Pete Carroll era (2001-09).