Reporting from Tampa, Fla. — In the end, it seemed so simple. So easy.
Deshaun Watson, the do-everything quarterback from Clemson, rolled to his right, glanced upfield and flipped a two-yard pass to a wide-open receiver in the end zone.
Simple and easy. But that one little play accomplished so much.
It allowed the second-ranked Tigers to finally defeat their nemesis, as they outlasted top-ranked and undefeated Alabama, 35-31, for the College Football Playoff national championship on Monday night.
It stopped the Crimson Tide’s run at back-to-back titles and delayed Coach Nick Saban’s historic march toward a record-tying sixth career championship.
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Mostly, it gave Watson — who lost a heartbreaker to Alabama in this game last year and has twice fallen short of winning the Heisman Trophy — the ultimate victory that he craved.
“Let’s be legendary,” he recalled telling his teammates on the final drive of the game. “Let’s be great.”
His short scoring pass to Hunter Renfrow with one second remaining on the scoreboard at Raymond James Stadium might have been the only way to end a game like this.
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A roller-coaster ride. A sleepy first half that exploded into a fourth-quarter frenzy.
“It was just an up-and-down game, but that’s football,” Alabama tight end O.J. Howard said. “You’ve got to play for 60 minutes.”
College football had waited for this rematch since last January, when Alabama executed a daring onside kick in the fourth quarter to spark a 45-40 victory.
This time around, it took a while for the action to get rolling. The first half saw a few good plays, a few missed chances and Clemson scoring on a crucial eight-yard touchdown run by Watson in the second quarter to stay within range, down 14-7 at halftime.
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“I knew they wouldn’t quit,” a tearful Coach Dabo Swinney said of his players.
The Crimson Tide might have hoped for something orderly and subdued — they brought the nation’s best defense to Florida, so a low-scoring affair would have suited them perfectly.
Also, they were relying on a freshman quarterback, Jalen Hurts, and had abruptly switched offensive coordinators, replacing Lane Kiffin with offensive analyst Steve Sarkisian barely a week before kickoff.
Hurts wouldn’t have the best of nights, completing 13 of 31 passes for 131 yards.
To make matters worse for Alabama, star running back Bo Scarbrough, who rushed for 93 yards and scored both of those early touchdowns on long runs, left with an injury midway through the third quarter.
Not that Saban would use any of it as an excuse.
“Well, I think our guys played really, really hard,” he said. “I think they made some fantastic catches and some great throws and catches, and the last couple drives when they had the ball, and you know, we just didn’t make a play when we needed to.”
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Clemson players celebrate after defeating Alabama, 35-31, in the College Football Playoff national championship game. (Chris O’Meara / Associated Press)
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Clemson cornerback Cordrea Tankersley celebrates afterthe Tigers defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide, 35-31, to win the College Football Playoff national championship game. (Jamie Squire / Getty Images)
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Clemson Coach Dabo Swinney celebrates with linebacker Ben Boulware during the award ceremony after the Tigers defeated Alabama, 35-31, in the College Football Playoff national title game.
(David J. Phillip / Associated Press)
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Clemson players celebrate during the award ceremony after defeating Alabama, 35-31, in the College Football Playoff national championship game. (David J. Phillip / Associated Press)
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Clemson linebacker Ben Boulware kisses the championship trophy during the College Football Playoff award ceremony.
(David J. Phillip / Associated Press)
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Clemson Coach Dabo Swinney talks to quarterback Deshaun Watson after winning the College Football Playoff national championship game over Alabama, 35-31. (David J. Phillip / Associated Press)
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Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson is congratulated by Alabama Coach Nick Saban after the Tigers’ 35-31 victory over the Crimson Tide.
(Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)
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Clemson player celebrate along the sideline after quarterback Deshaun Watson (not pictured) threw a two-yard touchdown pass with one second left to receiver Hunter Renfrow (not pictured).
(Jamie Squire / Getty Images)
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Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson celebrates after throwing a two-yard pass to Hunter Renfrow for the winning touchdown in the College Football Playoff title game.
(Streeter Lecka / Getty Images)
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Clemson receiver Hunter Renfrow celebrates with teammate Jordan Leggett (16) after catching the game-winning touchdown pass against Alabama.
(David J. Phillip / Associated Press)
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Clemson receiver Hunter Renfrow catches a two-yard touchdown pass against Alabama’s Tony Brown during the final seconds of the fourth quarter to give the Tigers a 35-31 lead.
(David J. Phillip / Associated Press)
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Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts (2) celebrates with teammates after rushing for a 30-yard touchdown during the fourth quarter.
(Streeter Lecka / Getty Images)
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Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts breaks into the clear for a 30-yard touchdown run to give the Crimson Tide a 31-28 lead over Clemson during the fourth quarter.
(Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)
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Clemson running back Wayne Gallman (9) plunges for a one-yard touchdown during the fourth quarter to give the Tigers their first lead over Alabama, 28-24.
(Jamie Squire / Getty Images)
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Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson leaps over Alabama defensive back Ronnie Harrison to get to the one-yard line during the fourth quarter.
(Tom Pennington / Getty Images)
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Clemson receiver Mike Williams catches a pass in front of Alabama defensive back Marlon Humphrey during the fourth quarter.
(Chris O’Meara / Associated Press)
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Clemson receiver Mike Williams (7) celebrates with tight end Jordan Leggett (16) after scoring a four-yard touchdown during the fourth quarter.
(Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)
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Clemson receiver Mike Williams makes a four-yard touchdown reception during the fourth quarter to cut Alabama’s lead to 24-21.
(Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)
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Alabama tight end O.J. Howard runs free down the left sideline on a 68-yard scoring pass play during the third quarter to give the Crimson Tide a 24-14 lead.
(Jamie Squire / Getty Images)
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Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson is sent flying by a hit from Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster, left, during the third quarter.
(Tom Pennington / Getty Images)
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Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster (10) sends Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson spinning into the air with a big hit during the third quarter. (Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)
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Clemson receiver Hunter Renfrow (13) is congratulated by teammate Deon Cain (8) after catching a 24-yard touchdown pass during the third quarter.
(Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)
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Clemson receiver Hunter Renfrow breaks away from two Alabama defender on a 24-yard scoring pass play during the third quarter.
(David J. Phillip / Associated Press)
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Clemson linebacker Ben Boulware breaks up a pass intended for Alabama receiver ArDarius Stewart during the third quarter.
(John Bazemore / Associated Press)
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Alabama kicker Adam Griffith watches his 27-yard field goal that gave the Crimson Tide a 17-14 lead in the third quarter.
(Chris O’Meara / Associated Press)
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Alabama linebacker Ryan Anderson recovers a fumble he forced by stripping the ball from Clemson running back Wayne Gallman (not pictured) during the third quarter.
(Chris O’Meara / Associated Press)
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Alabama linebacker Ryan Anderson (22) strips the ball from Clemson running back Wayne Gallman (9) during the third quarter.
(Tom Pennington / Getty Images)
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Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) celebrates with teammate Christian Wilkins (42) after rushing for an eight-yard touchdown during the second quarter.
(Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)
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Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson gets into the end zone on an eight-yard run during the College Football Playoff national championship game in Tampa, Fla., on Jan. 9
(Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)
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Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson slips down the sideline past an Alabama defender for an eight-yard scoring run durng the second quarter.
(Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)
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Alabama running back Bo Scarbrough crosses the goal line for a 37-yard touchdown run against Clemson during the second quarter.
(Streeter Lecka / Getty Images)
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Alabama running back Bo Scarbrough eludes Clemson safety VAn Smith (23) to break free for a 37-yard touchdown run during the second quarter.
(Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)
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Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts picks up yardage against the Clemson defense during the second quarter.
(David J. Phillip / Associated Press)
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Clemson linebacker Ben Boulware celebrates with a teammate after stopping Alabama running back Bo Scarbrough for no gain during the second quarter.
(Chris O’Meara / Associated Press)
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Alabama receiver Calvin Ridley tip-toes down the sideline after getting hit by Clemson defenders during the second quarter.
(Tom Pennington / Getty Images)
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Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts prepares to pass against Clemson during the first quarter.
(David J. Phillip / Associated Press)
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Alabama defensive back Ronnie Harrison pursues Clemson running back Wayne Gallman during the first quarter.
(John Bazemore / Associated Press)
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Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson throws to the flat against Alabama during the first quarter.
(Chris O’Meara / Associated Press)
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Clemson Coach Dabo Swinney argues a call during the first quarter.
(David J. Phillip / Associated Press)
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Clemson safety Tanner Muse partially blocks the punt of Alabama’s JK Scott during the first quarter.
(John Bazemore / Associated Press)
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Clemson running back Wayne Gallman is brought down by Alabama defensive back Tony Brown (left) during a fourth-down run that came up short in the first quarter.
(John Bazemore / Associated Press)
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Alabama defensive back Anthony Averett brings down Clemson receiver Mike Williams after a reception during the first quarter.
(Tom Pennington / Getty Images)
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Alabama defensive lineman Da’Ron Payne celebrates after tackling quarterback Deshaun Watson during the first quarter.
(Tom Pennington / Getty Images)
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Alabama defensive linemen Da’Ron Payne (94) and Jonathan Allen (93) tackle Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson during the first quarter Monday. (Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)
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Alabama Coach Nick Saban congratulates Bo Scarbrough after his touchdown run during the first quarter.
(David J. Phillip / Associated Press)
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Alabama running back Bo Scarbrough is congratulated by teammates ArDarius Stewart (13) and Hale Hentges (84) after scoring on a 25-yard run during the first quarter Monday. (Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)
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Alabama running back Bo Scarbrough beats the Clemson defense for a 25-yard touchdown run during the first quarter.
(Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)
For all the challenges his team faced, the favored Crimson Tide looked as if they might prevail in the third quarter.
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After throwing numerous short screens to their receivers, they faked another one and had tight end Howard peel away from his block to race down the sideline.
Howard, who had haunted Clemson with three long plays last year, hauled in Hurts’ pass to rumble 68 yards to the end zone. The score was 24-14 and the track meet was on.
Clemson’s best chance for winning rested with Watson and an offense that was capable of amassing big yardage, and featured a steady running back in Wayne Gallman and an NFL-caliber receiver in Mike Williams.
It was Williams who caught a four-yard touchdown pass from Watson with 14 minutes left to close the gap to 24-21. With Hurts looking shaky — his coaches stuck to a cautious passing attack but he could not seem to connect — Clemson finally took a 28-24 lead on a short Gallman run with 4:38 remaining.
It seemed like enough to win. It wasn’t.
“We had to stay patient and keep working hard,” Howard said. “Just trust our offense.”
With time running out, Hurts scrambled for his life, chucking a pass over the middle to keep the drive going. A lateral-and-pass put Alabama in scoring position and the young quarterback scrambled the final 30 yards, racing up the middle to give his team a 31-28 lead with 2:07 left.
Just enough time for Watson, who ended up completing 36 of 56 passes for 420 yards and three touchdowns.
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“I just smiled,” he said.
The junior quarterback threw to a leaping Williams. He threw to tight end Jordan Leggett, who made a diving, reaching catch.
The Tigers, who outgained Alabama 511 yards to 376, even pulled a hook-and-ladder play out of a game plan from the 1950s.
“It was calm,” Watson said. “No one panicked.”
Time slowed on the final play from the two-yard line and Alabama gave him the “straight cover zero man” defense he expected to see.
After the final touchdown pass, after Clemson recovered an onside kick to seal the victory, Swinney hugged Watson and whispered in his ear.
“I said ‘I love you,’” the coach recalled saying. “‘Man, this is what you came here to do.’”
David Wharton has filled an array of roles – covering the courts, entertainment, sports and the second Persian Gulf War – since starting as a Los Angeles Times intern in 1982. His work has been honored by organizations such as the Society for Features Journalism and Associated Press Sports Editors and has been anthologized in “Best American Sports Writing.” He has also been nominated for an Emmy and has written two books, including “Conquest,” an inside look at USC football during the Pete Carroll era.
