Alabama vs. Clemson Notes

TEAM NOTES

• Clemson finished the season with a 12-2 record and a 50-7 mark over the last four years. The 50 wins are an ACC record for a four-year period. 
• Last year, Clemson ended Alabama’s streak of 16 straight victories against AP top 25 teams. Tonight, Alabama ended Clemson’s streak of 11 straight wins over teams ranked by AP, USA Today or College Football Playoff. Both were the longest streaks in the nation at the time.
• Clemson had been 6-0 against ranked teams this year and 15-1 over the last three years prior to tonight.
• Clemson finishes the 2017 season 8-1 against teams with a winning record and 9-1 vs. bowl teams.
• Even with the loss, Clemson is 43-4 over its last 47 games dating to the 2014 season.
• Clemson was held without a touchdown for the first time since a 28-6 loss at Georgia Tech in 2014. It was also the fewest points in a game for Clemson since that Georgia Tech game.
• Clemson outscored the opposition 134-21 in the third quarter prior to tonight. Alabama won the third quarter 14-3 this evening.
• Only three teams scored more than seven points against Clemson through the first three quarters this year. Alabama was the third this evening with 24 points entering the fourth quarter. The others to do it were NC State and Syracuse.
• Clemson lost points off turnovers tonight, 14-3. Clemson had allowed just 23 points off turnovers all year prior to tonight and was +68 in points off turnovers going into tonight’s game.
• Clemson’s defense had allowed just two touchdowns after a turnover by the Clemson offense all year. It gave up just one tonight. The other score off a turnover tonight was a pick-six against the Clemson offense.
• Alabama’s return for a touchdown was the first of any kind against Clemson this year.
• Clemson has not scored a touchdown in two Sugar Bowls and has scored just one touchdown in its last three games played in New Orleans. That was a touchdown by Cliff Austin vs. Tulane in the Superdome in 1981. 
• This was Clemson’s worst margin of defeat since a 28-6 loss at Georgia Tech in 2014. Clemson’s three losses over the last three years prior to tonight had been by five, one and three points against Alabama, Pittsburgh and Syracuse, respectively.
• Clemson is now 7-2 in history as the No. 1 ranked teams and both losses have come to Alabama in the College Football Playoff.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

• Hunter Renfrow, Tyrone Crowder and Mitch Hyatt all started their fifth College Football Playoff Game this evening.
• Deon Cain went over the 2,000 yard receiving mark in this evening’s game. He needed 35 receiving yards entering the contest.
• Cain extended his streak of consecutive games with a reception to 37 with his performance tonight. He is one game short of the Clemson record of 38 set by Artavis Scott, who finished his career last season.
• Clelin Ferrell and Austin Bryant both had sacks in this evening’s game. Ferrell finishes the season with 9.5 sacks, and Bryant with 8.5.
• Dorian O’Daniel played in his 56th career game tonight, more than any other active Tiger and second most in Clemson history. Ryan Carter played his 55th game tonight as a Tiger, and he is now third in school history.
• Kelly Bryant had just six interceptions all year entering tonight’s game then had two on consecutive possessions in the third quarter. Both pass attempts were deflected before being intercepted.
• Alex Spence kicked two field goals this evening, with both being over 40 yards. He had made just one over 40 yards this year entering tonight, but each of his last three field goals this year were at least 40 yards.