SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Tua Tagovailoa knows he hasn’t seen a defensive front like the one he’ll face Monday night. The Alabama quarterback sounded almost in awe of what Clemson will be sending his way in the national championship game at Levi’s Stadium.
“They’re big. They’re strong. They’re athletic. And usually you don’t really see that in teams that you play,” the sophomore quarterback said. “It’s either one or the other. It’s either they’re just big or they’re just strong or they’re just athletic, but they kind of have a three-in-one package with almost all their D-linemen.”
Clemson led the nation with 52 sacks, 19.5 coming from defensive ends Clelin Ferrell and Austin Bryant. Defensive tackle Christian Wilkins was an All-ACC first team selection and is a projected first-round pick like Ferrell. The Tigers will be without their other star defensive tackle, Dexter Lawrence, who tested positive for the banned substance ostarine.
Fortunately for Tagovailoa, he’s got an elite offensive line in front of him. He was sacked just 12 times this year.
“I have full trust in our offensive line,” he said.
Dabo Swinney ripped the idea there is fatigue from seeing Clemson and Alabama play for the national title game for the third time in four years.
“I’m not going to apologize for having a great team and a great program and a bunch of committed guys, and Coach [Nick] Saban is not, either,” the Clemson coach said. “I think the objective is to get the two best teams. That’s kind of the way it is. If that’s not best for college football, then why did we even do it?”
Ticket prices are down for the game on the secondary market. On StubHub.com, the get-in ticket price is as low as $151.80, and on SeatGeek.com, tickets can be had for as low as $156. Last year in Atlanta, when Alabama and Georgia met for the title, the worst seats went for as much as $2,000. But College Football Playoff executive director Bill Hancock believes that’s the result of location, and nothing else.
“I think it’s an indicator of the distance between the two schools,” he said.
Hancock isn’t concerned that the rain that has hit the Bay Area over the weekend will impact the Levi’s Stadium field. A new turf was put in following the Redbox Bowl on Monday and has been covered by a tarp.
“We’re confident about the field,” he said.