The Clemson Tigers have avenged last year’s loss, defeating the Alabama Crimson Tide 35-31 to win the College Football Playoff National Championship. </s> Trevor Lawrence passed for 347 yards and three touchdowns and No. 2 Clemson rolled No. 1 Alabama 44-16 on Monday night in the College Football Playoff national championship game.

In the fourth consecutive playoff meeting between the Tigers and Tide, Clemson evened the series and beat 'Bama for the national title for the second time in three seasons. Clemson is the first team in the AP poll era, dating back to 1936, to finish 15-0.

Coach Nick Saban and the Tide (14-1) were looking for a sixth national championship in 10 years, trying to add to an already unprecedented run in the sport. Instead, Clemson crushed Alabama, becoming the first opponent to beat the Tide by more than 14 points since Saban became coach in 2007. </s> The Clemson Tigers needed a big performance to unseat defending champion Alabama. The Tigers got plenty of them from start to finish. Clemson led by a freshman quarterback toppled college football’s greatest dynasty again to become the first perfect playoff champion.

Trevor Lawrence passed for 347 yards and three touchdowns and the second-ranked Tigers beat No. 1 Alabama 44-16 on Monday night in the College Football Playoff national championship game.

In the fourth consecutive playoff meeting between the Tigers and Tide, Clemson evened the series and beat ’Bama for the national championship for the second time in three years. Clemson is the first college football team to finish 15-0 since the 1800s, and the first team since the playoff started five seasons ago to get through a season unscathed.

Alabama coach Nick Saban and the Tide (14-1) were looking for a sixth national championship in 10 years, trying to add to an already unprecedented run in the sport.

Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. </s> The Clemson Tigers stunned Alabama on Monday night, rallying for a wild 35-31 victory, snapping the No. 1-ranked Crimson Tide’s 26-game winning streak and clinching the school’s second-ever national championship.

Clemson clawed back from a 14-0 deficit, and Hunter Renfrow hauled in the winning 2-yard pass from Deshaun Watson with one second left.

With less than five minutes left in the game, Clemson’s Wayne Gallman punched into the end zone to give the Tigers the lead for the first time, 28-24. But Alabama promptly marched downfield and reclaimed the lead on a 30-yard run by freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts with two minutes left. But that was enough time for Watson to drive the Tigers 68 yards for the winning score.

After a defensive struggle in the first half, the second half opened up for both offenses. Watson passed for 420 yards and three touchdowns against the nation’s top defense.

It was the second year in a row the two teams squared off in the NCAA College Football Playoff National Championship Game, and the rematch was every bit as exciting as last year’s 45-42 shootout.

Clemson’s win denied Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban a fifth undisputed national championship, which would have tied him with Alabama legend Bear Bryant for the most ever. Saban had led Alabama to four championships in the previous seven seasons.

It was Clemson’s first win over Alabama since 1905, and their first national title since 1981. </s> Alabama-Clemson: Part IV. Once again, two powers meet in the National Championship game. Find a prediction and preview below.

The College Football Playoff is in is fifth year. This is the fourth time coach Nick Saban and the Tide and coach Dabo Swinney and the Tigers have played in the CFP. This will be the third time it's for the title, this time dueling at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.

Through all the twists and turns during the months-long college football regular season, this matchup always seemed like a potential option.

The two 14-0 teams have barely been tested this season. Those close games (Clemson vs. Syracuse, 'Bama vs. Georgia) stand out because they were so shocking.

With QB Tua Tagovailoa and his 3,671 yards and 41 touchdowns, Alabama has the best offense its had during this incredible run of five national titles going back to the 2009 season. Since 2015, Alabama is 55-3 with loses to Ole Miss, Auburn and Clemson. That's it.

Not that Clemson is that far behind. The Tigers are 54-4 since 2015, losing to Alabama twice, Pitt and Syracuse.

The Tigers have a dynamic quarterback of their own with Trevor Lawrence. The freshman took over the starting job from Kelly Bryant and has passed for almost 3,000 yards with 27 touchdowns.

Despite all the deserved attention Lawrence has received, running back Travis Etienne has been a huge star. Clemson averages more than 250 rush yards per game, with Etienne rushing for 1,572 yards this season. Of Clemson's 537 carries this season, Etienne has accounted for 190 (35 percent). That's a huge change from last season, as Bryant led the Tigers with 173 attempts in 2017.

MORE: These stats tell us who will win the CFP title

When the Tide roughed up Bryant and the Tigers in a 24-6 Sugar Bowl win last season, it was clear Clemson didn't have the firepower to compete. It does now.

At the same time, Alabama is even better offensively — and it has Hurts waiting if needed.

The last two title game showdowns between these two have been decided by 5 and 4 points. It wouldn't be surprising if this year's game was even closer.

MORE: How Alabama and Clemson match up statistically

The two biggest names in college football are battling again. Alabama is No. 1, the favorite, the defending national champion and has the (arguably) best quarterback in the country.

But something seems off.

After looking unbeatable for much of the season, Alabama barely beat Georgia thanks to Jalen Hurst heroics. The Tide raced out to a 28-0 lead against Oklahoma, only for the Sooners to get to within 11 points three times in the second half. Sure, Alabama always found an answer against OU. But Clemson isn't Oklahoma.

Huge, undefeated favorites have gone down before. Underdog Ohio State shocked Miami to win the 2002 national title. Texas beat Southern California in a classic Rose Bowl in the 2005 season. Both times, the winners were undefeated but still strong underdogs. Clemson fits that mold. </s> Three games just weren't enough. It's time for Part 4 between Alabama and Clemson, teams that will once again meet in the College Football Playoff championship.

For the third time in four years, the Crimson Tide and Tigers will play for the national championship. Each school has won one of those games, and the Tide prevailed over the Tigers last year in the Playoff semifinal in the Sugar Bowl before eventually beating Georgia for the championship.

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Alabama-Clemson IV is stuff movies are made of

This year, the stage will feature two underclassmen starting quarterbacks who have never played against the opposition. Alabama sophomore Tua Tagovailoa led his team to a national championship in 2017 and is coming off a season that saw him finish as the Heisman Trophy runner-up. Clemson freshman Trevor Lawrence took over under center midseason, throwing for 27 touchdowns to only four interceptions. He could become the first true freshman to start and win a national title game since Oklahoma's Jamelle Holieway in 1985.

History says we may be in for a high-scoring affair, but the stats show that the offenses could struggle, as both defenses are among the top 10 in the country in fewest yards allowed and points surrendered per game.

Sporting News is providing live scoring updates and highlights from the 2019 College Football Playoff championship game. Follow along below.

8:19 p.m.: A short run in between two incompletions for the Tigers and they go three-and-out to start the game.

8:15 p.m.: Alabama wins the toss and defers to the second half. Clemson will start with the ball.

8:06 p.m.: Lee Corso submits his selection for the winner.

7:20 p.m.: Both teams entered Levi's Stadium in style earlier in the day.

6:57 p.m.: A look at tonight's venue. It won't be so empty come game time.
• The power of Tua Tagovailoa, the megastar redefining Alabama's dynasty
• Alabama-Clemson fatigue a tired criticism that should be put to rest
• Alabama-Clemson IV adds to history of best bowl rematches
• Josh Jacobs looks to live up to Alabama's championship game lineage </s> SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — With stunning ease — and a freshman quarterback — Clemson toppled college football’s greatest dynasty again to become the first perfect playoff champion.

Trevor Lawrence passed for 347 yards and three touchdowns and the second-ranked Tigers beat No. 1 Alabama 44-16 on Monday night in the College Football Playoff national championship game.

In the fourth consecutive playoff meeting between the Tigers and Tide, Clemson evened the series and beat ‘Bama for the national championship for the second time in three seasons. Clemson is the first team in the AP poll era, dating back to 1936, to finish 15-0, and the first since the playoff started five seasons ago to get through a season unscathed.

“We’re gonna enjoy this one. We’ve got a nice spot to put it in our facility, right next to that other one,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. “We’ve got twins!”

Alabama coach Nick Saban and the Tide (14-1) were looking for a sixth national championship in 10 years, trying to add to an already unprecedented run in the sport. Instead, Clemson crushed Alabama, becoming the first opponent to beat the Tide by more than 14 points since Saban became coach in 2007.

Swinney’s Tigers sealed their status as a superpower, no longer just 1A to Alabama’s 1.

“We’re 15-0, we beat the best team ever, nobody’s taking that away from us,” Clemson All-America defensive tackle Christian Wilkins said.

Two seasons ago it was Deshaun Watson dethroning the Tide with a last-second touchdown pass. Clemson’s new star quarterback didn’t need the late-game heroics. The long-haired Lawrence cut though Alabama’s defense with the help of another fabulous freshman. Justyn Ross made a juggling grab, a one-handed snare and broke a 74-yard touchdown about midway through the third quarter that made it 37-16 and had Swinney high-stepping down the sidelines.

Ross, who scored two touchdowns in the semifinal rout of Notre Dame, had six catches for 153 yards against his home-state team.

Swinney takes a different approach than Saban, running a more fun-loving program than Alabama’s all-business organization. But the results have been every bit as good. And on Monday night at Levi’s Stadium, in a championship game played more than 2,000 miles away from Clemson’s South Carolina campus, the Tigers were way too much for an Alabama team that had spent the season mauling its opposition. The Tide won their first 14 games by an average of 31 points per game.

Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa threw two crucial interceptions in the first half, the first returned 44 yards for a touchdown by A.J. Terrell to put Clemson up 7-0. The Tide came in scoring 48 points per game, but was shut out over the final 44 minutes by an opportunistic Clemson defense that stiffened in key spots.

Saban lamented numerous mistakes: blown coverages on third down (Clemson was 10 for 15), stall outs in the red zone and special teams mishaps, including a fake field goal that flopped on the first possession of the second half.

He laid the blame on himself. The Alabama program has set a championship-or-bust standard under Saban, but he didn’t want this season looked at as a failure.

“One game doesn’t define who you are,” Saban said.

Tagovailoa, the sophomore who came off the bench to win the championship game last year for the Tide, went 22 for 34 for 295 yards and two touchdowns.

“Good is not good enough,” Tagovailoa said.

The Heisman runner-up was also the second-best quarterback on the field in the championship game. Lawrence finished 20 for 32, and went 18 for 25 for 277 yards over the final three quarters.

The teenager who took over as the starter four games into the season raised the Tigers’ play, giving them an explosive offense to match a suffocating defense, led by All-American linemen Clelin Ferrell and Wilkins.

“It’s been an awesome journey,” Lawrence said. “It’s really unbelievable.”

Clemson hit Alabama with a 31-point first half, capitalizing on the Tide’s mistakes and unleashing Lawrence’s rocket arm.

Tagovailoa threw a second interception in the second quarter, this time into triple coverage, and Trayvon Mullen’s 46-yard return put Clemson in Alabama territory. That led to Travis Etienne’s third touchdown of the half, a 5-yard shovel pass from Lawrence.

With a chance to stamp itself as the best team in Saban’s remarkable 12 seasons at Alabama, the Crimson Tide played maybe the worst half of the coach’s tenure. The 15-point halftime deficit was the largest the Tide has ever faced under Saban.

Alabama seemed panicked in the third quarter, running a fake field goal into a waiting Clemson defense instead of kicking from 40. Three plays later, Lawrence faced down a pass rush and slung a pass to Ross, who was alone after Alabama defensive back Savion Smith went down with an apparent leg injury.

Ross sprinted away and the shocking rout was on.

“We’re just little old Clemson and I’m not supposed to be here,” said Swinney, the former walk-on at Alabama and receivers coach at Clemson who now has as many national titles as Hall of Famers Bobby Bowden and Joe Paterno. “But we are here and I am here. How about them Tigers.” </s> TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — In a sequel as thrilling as the original, Clemson defeated ‘Bama 35-31 to win its 1st college football title since 1981.

Deshaun Watson’s 2-yard touchdown pass to Hunter Renfrow with 1 second remaining gave Clemson a wild 35-31 win over Alabama in the College Football Playoff national championship game.

Watson completed 36 of 56 passes for 420 yards and three scores in his last college game, as the Tigers (14-1) got their first national title since 1981.

Renfrow caught two scoring passes for Clemson, which rallied from a 14-0 deficit and snapped Alabama’s 26-game winning streak.

Bo Scarbrough ran for two touchdowns for Alabama (14-1), which failed in its quest to be the first 15-win major college team since Penn in 1897. Scarbrough left the game with a leg injury in the second half.

Alabama beat Clemson 45-40 last season in the title game. This sequel was as thrilling as the original.

Clemson put up 511 yards on Alabama’s defense, held the ball for nearly 35 minutes and scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Clemson then recovered an onside kick, and fittingly that gave Watson a chance to kneel down for the game’s final play — then streamed onto the field in celebration. </s> ATLANTA (AP) — The Latest on the College Football Playoff national football championship game on Monday night (all times local):

Alabama freshman quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has been named offensive player of the College Football Playoff championship game after leading the Crimson Tide to a come-from-behind 26-23 overtime win over Georgia.

Tagovailoa replaced an ineffective Jalen Hurts to start the second half and led the Tide back from deficits of 13-0 at half and 20-7 in the middle of the third quarter. He completed 14 of 24 passes for 166 yards and three touchdowns, including the winning 41-yarder in overtime. The former prep star from Hawaii also ran 12 times for 27 yards.

Alabama defensive lineman Da’Ron Payne was defensive player of the game. Payne had six tackles and was part of an Alabama defensive front that shut down Georgia’s running game in the second half. Payne also intercepted a tipped pass, helping to set up a field goal.

Alabama’s 26-23 thriller over Georgia was the first national championship game to go to overtime since 2003.

That’s the year Ohio State outlasted Miami 31-24 in double overtime at the Fiesta Bowl in a game that settled the BCS Championship.

There have been some close games since, including the 41-38 Rose Bowl classic in 2006 when Texas beat Southern California. Two years ago, Alabama beat Clemson 45-40 and then the Tigers returned the favor last season with a 35-31 win decided on a last-second touchdown pass.

This year’s OT game was settled on a 41-yard TD pass from Tua Tagovailoa to DeVonta Smith.

Alabama has beaten Georgia 26-23 in overtime to win its fifth national championship since 2009 under Nick Saban.

Freshman quarterback Tua Tagovailoa threw a 41-yard touchdown pass to DeVonta Smith after getting sacked on Alabama’s opening play of the extra session. Georgia had the ball first in overtime, and Rodrigo Blankenship kicked a 51-yard field goal.

Alabama’s Andy Pappanastos missed what would have been the winning 36-yard field goal as time ran out in regulation.

Tagovailoa took over for an ineffective Jalen Hurts to start the second half and led the Crimson Tide to two touchdowns and two field goals as they erased deficits of 13-0 at half and 20-7 in the middle of the third quarter.

It’s the 11th national title for the Crimson Tide. Georgia was seeking its second title after winning it all in 1980.

Alabama and Georgia are going to overtime in the national championship game, tied at 20-20.

The Crimson Tide has stormed back from a 13-0 halftime deficit and was in position to win it with 3 seconds to go. But Andy Pappanastos missed a field goal try from 36 yards.

Freshman Tua Tagovailoa has led the Alabama comeback after replacing Jalen Hurts to start the second half. He tied it 20-all on a 7-yard pass to Calvin Ridley, and then Alabama’s defense forced a three-and-out to set up Pappanastos’ try.

Pappanastos missed far to the left. He missed earlier from 40 yards on his first field-goal try of the game. He has connected from 43 and 30 yards.

The national championship game is tied at 20-all late in the fourth quarter.

Freshman Tua Tagovailoa threw a 7-yard touchdown to Calvin Ridley on a fourth-and-4 play with 3:49 left. The play came after Georgia’s Roquan Smith and Trenton Thompson stuffed Damien Harris for a 1-yard loss on third down.

Tagovailoa replaced Jalen Hurts to start the second half and has led Alabama to two touchdowns and two field goals to bring the Crimson Tide back from a 13-0 halftime deficit.

Alabama has closed to 20-13 in the fourth quarter of the national championship game against Georgia.

Andy Pappanastos kicked his second field goal of the game, a 30-yarder with 9:24 left. The score came one play after Georgia’s Dominick Sanders nearly picked off Tua Tagovailoa’s overthrown pass in the end zone.

Georgia is trying to win its first national title since 1980.

Georgia went into the fourth quarter of the national championship game with a 20-10 lead over Alabama.

Georgia freshman Jake Fromm has thrown for 225 yards and a touchdown, with two interceptions, and Sony Michel has run for 84 yards on 12 carries. Georgia’s Mecole Hardman has scored twice, the first time on a 1-yard run when he took a direct snap and the second on an 80-yard pass.

Alabama freshman Tua Tagovailoa, who replaced quarterback Jalen Hurts to start the second half, is 7 for 13 for 54 yards and a touchdown.

Alabama has pulled within 20-10 of Georgia with 5:15 left in the third quarter of the national championship game.

Andy Pappanastos, who missed a 40-yard field-goal attempt in the first quarter, connected from 43 yards six plays after the Crimson Tide got their second interception in two games by a defensive lineman.

Raekwon Davis picked off a Jake Fromm pass that bounced off the helmet of fellow defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand.

Alabama got an interception from Da’Ron Payne in the playoff semifinal win over Clemson.

After having three touchdowns all season, Georgia’s Mecole Hardman has two touchdowns in the national championship game against Alabama, including an 80-yarder that included some fancy footwork along the sideline.

After Alabama staged an impressive drive for its first touchdown, cutting the Bulldogs’ lead to 13-7 in the third quarter, Georgia answered quickly with Jake Fromm’s bomb to Hardman.

A review confirmed Hardman stayed in bounds after making contact with Alabama defensive back Tony Brown. Hardman’s first score came on a 1-yard touchdown run late in the first half on a direct snap.

Jake Fromm has thrown an 80-yard touchdown pass to Mecole Hardman to give Georgia a 20-7 lead over Alabama with 6:52 left in the third quarter of the national championship game.

The touchdown stood after a video review to see if Hardman stepped out of bounds at about the Alabama 20-yard line.

The Bulldogs got the ball back when Deandre Baker intercepted freshman Tua Tagovailoa, who had led Alabama to its first touchdown after starting the second half in place of Jalen Hurts. But the Crimson Tide got an interception of its own when a Fromm pass was tipped at the line.

Alabama has pulled within 13-7 at Georgia in the third quarter of the national championship game.

Freshman Tua Tagovailoa replaced Jalen Hurts to start the second half and hit Henry Ruggs III with a 6-yard touchdown pass to finish a seven-play, 56-yard drive.

Tagovailoa completed 4 of 5 passes, but he used his legs to make the biggest play. Under pressure after he dropped back to pass, he split two Georgia defenders and made a third miss as he scrambled for 9 yards on a third-and-7.

The Tide went three-and-out on their first series with Tagovailoa under center.

Alabama is playing the second half without offensive tackle Jonah Williams. The third-team All-American was replaced by Alex Leatherwood.

President Donald Trump attended the first half of the game and was on the field during the national anthem. He had left by the time things got rolling in the third quarter.

Trailing 13-0, Alabama has started freshman Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback in the second half of the national championship game against Georgia.

Tagovailoa replaced a struggling Jalen Hurts coming out of the locker room. Hurts was just 3-of-8 passing for 21 yards in the first half while running for 47 yards.

Tagovailoa, a five-star recruit from Hawaii, played in eight games this season. He completed 35 of 53 passes for 470 yards with eight touchdowns against one interception, mostly in mop-up duty. Hurts was the Southeastern Conference offensive player of the year as a freshman last season.

Alabama hadn’t been held scoreless in the first half since last season. It was also the first time since the 2012 national title game that a team failed to score in the first half. Alabama shut out Notre Dame going into the half en route to a 42-14 win.

Alabama trails Georgia 13-0 at halftime of the national title game.

The Crimson Tide had not been held scoreless in the first half since a 10-0 victory over LSU last season. All 10 of the Tide’s points came in the fourth quarter.

Alabama had outscored opponents 270-56 before the half this season coming into the game against its SEC rival.

Georgia’s Jake Fromm is 11 of 23 for 126 yards, and Sony Michel has run eight times for 61 yards.

Georgia holds a 13-0 lead over Alabama at halftime of the national championship game in Atlanta.

Jake Fromm led the Bulldogs on a 69-yard touchdown drive in the last 2 minutes. Wide receiver Mecole Hardman took a direct snap and ran 1 yard into the end zone with 7 seconds left.

Rodrigo Blankenship kicked field goals of 41 and 27 yards, and the Bulldogs’ defense held the Crimson Tide in check.

Alabama totaled just 95 yards on five possessions, and Jalen Hurts took a knee to end the half. The Tide punted four straight times after Andy Pappanastos missed a 40-yard field goal on the Tide’s first possession.

Georgia got the ball back with 1:19 left in the half. Fromm threw passes of 10 and 16 yards and ran for 14 on Georgia’s way to the touchdown.

Fromm is 11 of 23 for 126 yards, and Sony Michel has run eight times for 61 yards.

Hurts is 3 for 8 for 21 yards and he’s run six times for 47.

Georgia wide receiver Riley Ridley is flourishing in his opportunity to emerge from the shadow cast by his older brother, Alabama star Calvin Ridley.

Ridley has four catches for 62 yards in the first half of Monday night’s national championship game. He already has moved to within range of his career-high totals of five catches for 67 yards against Vanderbilt in 2016.

While Calvin Ridley, a junior, is second in Alabama history with 220 career receptions, including a team-high 59 this season, Riley Ridley has had a quiet season for Georgia with only eight catches before the championship game.

Georgia led Alabama 6-0 late in the second quarter.

Rodrigo Blankenship has kicked his second field goal, this one from 27 yards, to give Georgia a 6-0 lead over Alabama with about 6 minutes left until halftime of the national championship game.

Georgia’s defense limited Alabama to 57 yards and forced two straight three-and-outs before quarterback Jalen Hurts broke loose for 31 yards. Hurts has completed only 2 of his first 6 passes for 17 yards and the Crimson Tide has punted three times.

Bulldogs freshman Jake Fromm is 8 of 16 for 84 yards.

Georgia receiver Riley Ridley has outplayed his older brother, Alabama All-SEC receiver Calvin Ridley, in the early going. Ridley has two catches for 36 yards, including a 23-yarder to convert a third-and-8 and keep the Bulldogs’ second scoring drive alive. Calvin Ridley has one catch for 9 yards.

Georgia has taken a 3-0 lead in the College Football Playoff championship game, with Rodrigo Blankenship kicking a 41-yard field goal on the second play of the second quarter.

The Bulldogs got into position after moving from their 21 to the Alabama 24 in 14 plays.

The big play on the drive was Sony Michel’s 26-yard run to the Alabama 26 on a third-and-20 after Anthony Averett crashed through from the left side to sack Jake Fromm.

Michel’s run was reviewed to see if he stepped out of bounds before the 26, but the Big Ten officiating crew’s spot was upheld.

Alabama had a chance to take the lead in the first quarter, but Andy Pappanastos missed a 40-yard field goal.

Georgia turned over the ball on its opening possession of the national championship game but came away unscathed after Alabama missed a field goal.

Tony Brown wrestled a long pass away from Georgia’s Javon Wims to set up the Crimson Tide at their 36.

But Alabama failed to come away with points. Andy Pappanastos’ 35-yard field goal was nullified by a false start, and he pulled his second attempt from 40 yards wide left.

The Crimson Tide forced Georgia to punt on its second possession with 9:04 left in the first quarter.

The College Football Playoff national championship game between Alabama (12-1) and Georgia (13-1) is under way at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Frank Beamer, Mack Brown and Matt Stinchcomb — named to the 2018 College Football Hall of Fame on Monday — were on the field for the coin toss along with honorary captains O.J. Howard of Alabama and Herschel Walker of Georgia.

Alabama called tails and won the toss and deferred until the second half. They picked off Georgia on the third play from scrimmage.

This is the 68th all-time meeting between the Southeastern Conference rivals and first since 2015, when Alabama won 38-10 in the regular season.

Alabama is in the title game for the third year in a row and seeking its fifth national title under Saban since 2009. Georgia, led by second-year coach and former Saban assistant Kirby Smart, is looking for its first championship since 1980.

The Crimson Tide reached the title game with a 24-6 Sugar Bowl win over Clemson. The Bulldogs advanced with a 54-48 double-overtime win over Oklahoma in the Rose Bowl.

President Donald Trump is in attendance and was on the field during the national anthem.

President Donald Trump was on the field for the national anthem before the College Football Playoff national title game.

Trump walked onto the field accompanied by the ROTC units from Georgia and Alabama. He was greeted by mostly cheers from the crowd on hand to watch the game between Alabama and Georgia.

Trump waved to the crowd before the Zac Brown Band sang the anthem. Hand placed over his heart, Trump appeared to sing along at times.

No players were on the field yet. That’s unlike the NFL, where some players this season protested racial injustice by kneeling during the anthem — often drawing Trump’s ire.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium has a bit of water dripping on to the sideline, seemingly coming from high above the field.

Around the 20-yard line on Alabama’s side of the field, but off the playing field, a few drops could be spotted falling on to the green artificial turf.

A stadium security worker wearing a blue shirt was standing where the water was landing and had wets spots on his shirt.

There have been issues with the stadium’s signature retractable roof since construction began on the facility. The roof has only been opened once for football since the stadium opened in August.

The crowd is trickling into Mercedes-Benz Stadium with the kickoff for Monday night’s College Football Playoff national championship game about an hour away.

Alabama native and former NFL star Terrell Owens is among the crowd that navigated the consistent chilly drizzle outside the stadium and security lines to get into the building.

Owens, from Alexander City, Alabama, wore a wool knit Crimson Tide cap and talked with the SEC Network before the contest, telling host Paul Finebaum that his dream growing up wasn’t the NFL, it was to play for Alabama.

If he had, the Crimson Tide might have had another national crown or two in their trophy case.

Owens instead played at Chattanooga and was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 1996. He had 1,078 catches in 15 seasons with five NFL teams.

Alabama radio play-by-play announcer Eli Gold says he has been told that President Trump will be on the Alabama Radio Network during the College Football Playoff national championship game between the Crimson Tide and Georgia.

Gold says network officials reached out to the White House through the Alabama governor’s office last week to request an interview with the president and heard back in the last day or so that Trump agreed to come.

Gold says nothing is definitive but if Trump comes on it would like be after the first quarter.

Georgia won’t be at full strength at tight end in its national championship game against Alabama.

Sophomore Charlie Woerner, who set a career high with three catches in the Bulldogs’ Rose Bowl playoff win over Oklahoma last week, was on crutches when the team entered Mercedes-Benz Stadium for Monday night’s game.

Coach Kirby Smart said Sunday Woerner’s status was doubtful after the sophomore suffered a leg injury in last week’s win, so the crutches were not a big surprise.

Woerner, listed with Isaac Nauta behind starting tight end Jeb Blazevich, had nine catches for 100 yards this season.

Woerner is the nephew of former Georgia defensive back and return specialist Scott Woerner, a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. Scott Woerner was a standout on Georgia’s 1980 national championship team.

No. 4 Alabama faces No. 3 Georgia in an all-Southeastern Conference College Football Playoff national championship game Monday night.

Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban tries to tie former Alabama coach Bear Bryant’s record six major poll national championships. Saban has led the Tide to four national championships since 2009, and the last three national championship games.

Georgia, coached by former Saban assistant Kirby Smart, is looking for its first national championship since 1980.

The Bulldogs feature the most prolific running back combination in college football in senior Sony Michel and Nick Chubb. They combined for six touchdowns in the Bulldogs semifinal victory against Oklahoma in the Rose Bowl.

Alabama has to No. 1 rushing defense in the country and smothered Clemson in the Sugar Bowl semifinal to get here.

This story has been corrected to show winning TD throw was 41 yards.
Clemson defeats Alabama 35–31 to win the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship.