Clemson finishes No. 2 in final AP poll behind No. 1 Alabama
Alabama won its 10th Associated Press national championship following its 45-40 victory over Clemson in the College Football Playoff title game on Monday night.
The Crimson Tide have now won four national titles in the past seven years, all under coach Nick Saban. His other titles at Alabama came in 2009, 2011 and 2012.
In the 50th game matching the No. 1 vs. the No. 2 team, Alabama (14-1) outscored Clemson 24-16 in a frantic fourth quarter to win and earned all 61 first-place votes from the AP panel. Clemson won its only national title in 1981.
The Tigers (14-1) were ranked No. 1 coming into the game, and finished second after their first loss of the season.
Stanford, 45-16 winners over Iowa in the Rose Bowl, finished third in the final poll, followed by Ohio State, Oklahoma and Michigan State.
'BAMA STYLE
This is the fifth time Alabama has won a national title without being ranked No. 1 during the regular season.
Derrick Henry is the 16th Heisman Trophy winner to play for the national champion.
CONFERENCE BREAKDOWN
The Big Ten led all conferences with six teams in the final rankings - Ohio State, Michigan State, Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin and Northwestern.
The SEC had five - Alabama, Mississippi, LSU, Florida, Tennessee.
HIGH TIMES
No. 2 Clemson had its highest finish since the 1982 final poll.
No. 3 Stanford had its best final poll finish since being No. 2 in 1940.
No. 8 Houston had its highest final poll finish since being No. 10 in 1990.
No. 10 Mississippi had its best final poll finish since No. 8 in 1969.
No. 18 Navy had its best final poll finish since being No. 2 in 1963.
LOW BALL
No. 19 Oregon had its lowest finish in the final poll since it was No. 23 in 2007.
FINAL AP POLL
Rank | team | Record | Points | PV Rank |
1 | Alabama (61) | 14-1 | 1,525 | 2 |
2 | 14-1 | 1,464 | 1 | |
3 | 12-2 | 1,360 | 5 | |
4 | 12-1 | 1,342 | 7 | |
5 | 11-2 | 1,270 | 4 | |
6 | 12-2 | 1,227 | 3 | |
7 | 11-2 | 1,098 | 11 | |
8 | 13-1 | 1,050 | 14 | |
9 | 12-2 | 981 | 6 | |
10 | 10-3 | 975 | 16 | |
11 | 10-3 | 953 | 8 | |
12 | 10-3 | 911 | 17 | |
13 | 10-3 | 820 | 18 | |
14 | 10-3 | 630 | 9 | |
15 | 11-3 | 563 | 10 | |
16 | 9-3 | 546 | 22 | |
17 | 10-3 | 499 | 20 | |
18 | 11-2 | 465 | 21 | |
19 | 9-4 | 391 | 15 | |
20 | 10-3 | 372 | 13 | |
21 | 10-3 | 332 | 23 | |
22 | 9-4 | 260 | 29 | |
23 | 10-3 | 203 | 12 | |
24 | 12-2 | 128 | 25 | |
25 | 10-4 | 126 | 19 |
This story was originally published January 12, 2016 at 10:47 AM with the headline "Clemson finishes No. 2 in final AP poll behind No. 1 Alabama."