For the first time in 35 years, the Clemson Tigers are college football’s national champion.

Clemson scored on a 2-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Deshaun Watson to wide receiver Hunter Renfrow with one second remaining to defeat Alabama 35-31 in the College Football Playoff championship game Monday night.

Watson, a native of Gainesville, Ga., passed for three touchdowns and rushed for another as the Tigers recovered from an early 14-point deficit for the victory.

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Kennesaw State head coach Antoine Pettway reacts after his team beat Georgia State  92-69 at VyStar Arena, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, in Kennesaw. (Colin Hubbard for the AJC)

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Former Fulton County election worker Ruby Freeman talks to her daughter, Wandrea ArShaye "Shaye" Moss, a former Georgia election worker, after she testified before the U.S. House Select Committee at its fourth hearing on its Jan. 6 investigation on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, June 21, 2022. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)

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