The college football national champion will be crowned January 8 in the Mercedes-Benz Dome in Atlanta. We know that either Clemson or Alabama will be in that game.
But neither team will have to win in Atlanta to be considered the king of this era of college football. That larger title will be determined a week earlier in New Orleans.
There’s no question Nick Saban has elevated Alabama to the level of a true college football dynasty over the last decade. There’s never been a college football playoff that didn’t include Alabama.
But that doesn’t mean Alabama is the clear dominant program of the playoff era. In fact, a win by Clemson next Monday night would elevate the Tigers to that position.
Let’s take a look at what’s been accomplished by the Tide and Tigers during the playoff era.
Over the last 4 years, Clemson has a record of 50-6. They are currently working on a streak of seven straight seasons of at least 10 wins. If they win the national championship this season they will have an unprecedented third straight 14-win season.
Alabama has also won 14 games in each of the last two season, but even a national championship would result in a 13-1 record. The Tide has won at least 11 games in each of the last seven seasons.
So, there is clearly no sign of slippage for Alabama. But that doesn’t mean the Tide’s perch atop college football isn’t in danger.
The king of college football in the playoff era will be determined in New Orleans, regardless of which team wins the actual national championship game the following week.
For Threaded Fasteners, I’m Randy Kennedy with Nuts and Bolts of the Game.
