TAMPA, Fla. — It may have taken others a little longer to notice what Dabo Swinney has done in building an elite program, but Alabama head coach Nick Saban isn’t surprised.

“I think Clemson and what Dabo has done with his program there is one of the top college football programs in the country,” the Crimson Tide head coach said. “They do an outstanding job of recruiting. They do an outstanding job of coaching. They do an outstanding job of developing players. I can’t tell you how much respect we have for the job that they do.”

Not only have the Tigers reached the national championship game for a second straight year, where they will play Alabama on Monday at Raymond James Stadium here in Tampa, Florida, but they have also recorded a record 27 wins the last two years, 37 the last three years and 48 the last four.

Clemson (13-1) has won 10-plus games for six straight seasons, five straight bowl wins, five ACC Atlantic Division Titles and three ACC Championships, including each of the last two years.

“I think it’s reflected in the way they play on the field, the success that they’ve had, the consistency in performance that their team has shown, whether it’s offense, defense, and in every phase of the game,” Saban said. “I think this is one of the top programs in the country, and certainly it is reflected by the success that they’ve had on the field.

“It’s no surprise to me that they are where they are relative to last year’s team and this year’s team.”

In the last two years the Tigers have posted a 27-2 record, second only to Alabama’s 28-1 mark. In the last six years, the Tigers have posted 69 wins overall, second only to Alabama.

“I certainly think that Clemson deserves to be here,” Saban said. “And they’ve done a great job all year to beat a lot of good teams to have the opportunity to get here, as well.

“If I was going to pick who the two best teams are, I would say the two best teams are here. And that’s the way it should be. That’s the way a playoff should be.”