Hunter Renfrow
The Cheat SheetBy Kevin McGuire on

We may have just witnessed the greatest college football game since Texas-USC

The college football season went out with a bang by giving us a true classic between Clemson and Alabama on Monday night. Years from now when we look back on this championship game, it may even eclipse the Texas-USC Rose Bowl (and this season’s Rose Bowl for sure) because it adds the element of revenge in an unprecedented rematch. It was awesome.

Clemson shocks Alabama with last-second championship-winning touchdown

That moment when a former walk-on prevents you from winning another national title.
That moment when a former walk-on prevents you from winning another national title.

Wow. If you thought the Rose Bowl was awesome (and it was), well then the national championship game just one-upped it. In a bowl that was eerily similar to the famous Texas-USC BCS championship game, Clemson stunned defending champion Alabama in the final seconds of the game with a touchdown. Many people expected Clemson to not just give Alabama a run, but come away with the win. I’m not so sure even those who picked Clemson to win would have predicted the Tigers would outscore the Crimson Tide 21-7 in the fourth quarter to come back from a 24-14 deficit to win by four.

There were a ton of big plays, but here’s your game-winning play…

This seems like a good time to recognize that time when people were clamoring for a coaching change at Clemson in 2012. Fast forward a few years, and now Swinney is the only active FBS head coach to own head-to-head victories against every other active head coach with a national championship ring. Deshaun Watson connected with a wide open Hunter Renfrow (who saved a potential Alabama defensive touchdown earlier in the second half with a tackle after a fumble recovery by the Tide; Alabama only managed a field goal, which proved to be significant) for the go-ahead score with one second to spare.

And you know what happens when Alabama loses? Auburn fans roll Toomer’s Corner, of course!

Looking ahead to 2017, Alabama will be really freaking good again. Clemson should be in pretty good shape too, although with no more Deshaun Watson and Mike Williams (who was a stud last night). Expect USC to start the season in the top four, and Penn State looks as though they may be pretty dangerous as well. It is far too early to predict a College Football Playoff field for 2017, so I’m not going to do that right now. Way-Too-Early lists are dumb anyway.

You know what else is dumb? Skip Bayless and his live tweeting during the championship game. I’ll spare you the details and let Awful Announcing cover this one for you.

Now, Bill Walton talking about marijuana during one of ESPN’s feeds during the megacast, that was something. Richard Deitsch of Sports Illustrated provided his thoughts on the megacast.

https://twitter.com/tole_cover/status/818657009662836736

What was Lane Kiffin doing?

A pretty spot-on Lane Kiffin imposter made his way to the championship game.
A pretty spot-on Lane Kiffin imposter made his way to the championship game.

Despite the attempts of one dedicated Lane Kiffin fan in the crowd, the former Alabama offensive coordinator and current head coach of Florida Atlantic was enjoying watching the game in confort. Yes, he was rooting for Alabama too, and he did so sporting some comfy-looking Alabama pants.

Oh, and there is this little nugget of information to digest this morning…

Where in the world is Derrick Rose?

A bizarre story unfolded in the NBA Monday night when Derrick Rose was MIA in New York.
A bizarre story unfolded in the NBA Monday night when Derrick Rose was MIA in New York.

When he should have been getting ready to take the court with his New York Knicks teammates, Derrick Rose was apparently in Chicago. The Knicks let it be done Rose was not with the team, but at the time the game tipped off it was a question as to just how much the Knicks really knew what was going on.

As the evening played out and more reports came together, it was learned Rose did not have permission to leave the team but did have a family situation to attend..

We’ll see if we learn anything more today, but the Knicks are never going to be short on drama.

Quick Hits

This Alabama player is a life champion of mustaches.
This Alabama player is a life champion of mustaches.

– The New York Giants apparently took out their frustrations from a playoff loss in Green Bay on the team’s airplane. Couple that with Odell Beckham Jr. allegedly punching a hole in the wall, and maybe the Giants need to fit in some anger management courses in the offseason camp schedule.

– The Big 12 ref at the championship game was ripped…

– Look, when you already spent that much money on the ticket and airfare, you might as well go, right?

– The coaches in ESPN’s megacast were clearly focused on the most interesting of details…

– The College Football Hall of Fame class this year might be one of the best ever.

– This dude should have tried a chest pass.

– The MMA world took a jab back at Meryl Streep.

– No more alternate NHL jerseys from Adidas?

– Step up your game, Joel Embiid.

One last gratuitous moment of procrastination

About Kevin McGuire

Contributor to Athlon Sports and The Comeback. Previously contributed to NBCSports.com. Host of the Locked On Nittany Lions Podcast. FWAA member and Philadelphia-area resident.

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