NEW ORLEANS — The first half could not have gone any worse for top-ranked Clemson in the Sugar Bowl on Monday.

Alabama controlled the line of scrimmage from the start and field position as well as it lived on the Tigers’ side of the field in the first 30 minutes.

Because of it Clemson totaled minus-7 yards in the opening quarter while the Tide had 102 yards and got a 24-yard Andy Pappanastos field goal and then a 12-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Ridley from Jalen Hurts.

Though things were a little bit better in the second half, the Tigers’ 10-3 deficit seemed a whole lot worse than the score actually indicated.

Clemson had just four first downs in the opening half and a season-low 73 yards in the first half. The Tigers were just 3-for-8 on third down, while the running backs combined for just 10 yards on five carries.

Kelly Bryant was 6-for-12 through the air for 43 yards and was sacked twice, while running for 21 yards on eight carries.

On the flip side, Alabama totaled 182 yards on 37 plays and controlled the ball for 18 minutes and 34 seconds. The Tide was 5-of-9 on third down. Running back Damien Harris rushed for 57 of their 95 yards, while Hurts was 10-for-13 for 87 yards, including his 12-yard touchdown pass to Ridley with 12 seconds to play in the first quarter.

The only positive thing to go Clemson’s way was Alex Spence’s 44-yard field with 10:00 to play in the second quarter to get on the scoreboard. However, that left a sour taste in the Tigers’ mouth when the officials missed an obvious pass interference from Tony Brown on Tee Higgins who was going up for Bryant’s third-down pass in the end zone.

Brown grabbed Higgins left arm as he tried to go up for the ball.

Clemson did catch a break right before the half as Pappanastos hit the left upright on a 38-yard field goal attempt.