By the Numbers: No. 2 Clemson vs No. 1 Alabama

TAMPA, Fla. — Second-ranked Clemson takes on top-ranked Alabama in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game tonight at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. Here are five numbers to note as kickoff approaches…

7.5: Yards per attempt for Jalen Hurts. The Alabama quarterback’s ability to throw the football has become a robust conversation starter in the run-up to Monday’s CFP title game. Hurts is a true freshman, and a Crimson Tide victory make him the first of his experience level to start under center for a national champion. This stat showcases Hurts’ limitations as a passer. Much like Ohio State’s J.T. Barrett, Hurts has had difficulties connecting on downfield passes. Unlike Barrett, arm strength is not his primary issue, but a lack of accuracy has hurt Bama’s vertical passing game—an element that proved potent against Clemson on this stage a year ago. In many respects, he does profile similarly to Barrett, but the weapons at his disposal are more threatening.

11: Defensive touchdowns scored by Alabama this season. This is perhaps the most well-known stat in the country by now, and it is no doubt impressive. The Crimson Tide have specialized in scoring on defense and special teams in 2016. It isn’t just a couple of super playmakers, either. Nine different Bama defenders have scored at least once. Clemson has been prone to turn the ball over this season—even twice in the shutout of Ohio State—but many of those turnovers have come on downfield passes or runs. Typically, defensive scores occur on plays made at or near the line of scrimmage. Clemson has only allowed one defensive score this season—an interception return by NC State at the start of the third quarter—so it will be interesting to see if the Crimson Tide can create a big play against the Tigers.

21: Red zone trips for Alabama’s opponents this season. No other team in the country comes within six of this total. The Crimson Tide have basically built a wall at the 20-yard-line all year long. Part of that stems from facing offenses that are either severely limited or one-dimensional all season long. Clemson, meanwhile, lives in the red zone. The Tigers rank third in the country with 72 red zone possessions this season, meaning whichever team is able to get closer to its status quo may be the team that ultimately wins. Clemson has a stingy defense in its own right in terms of red zone possessions, allowing only 36 for the season, while Alabama has gotten inside the opponent’s 20 on 63 occasions.

45.6: Percentage of Alabama’s points that have come against two of its 14 opponents. Those opponents are Ole Miss and Arkansas, who scored a combined 73 of the 160 points allowed by the Crimson Tide in 2016. Those teams were able to amass a bunch of passing yards against Alabama’s defense. In fact, they accounted for almost one-third of all passing yards accumulated against the Crimson Tide this season. There is no question Clemson presents the most capable passing attack Bama has faced in 2016, even relative to the Rebels and Razorbacks. If Deshaun Watson and his stable of stallions at receiver can make the Tide play on their heels in the secondary, Monday’s showdown could resemble last year’s classic—at least for the Tigers.

83: Carries for Alabama tailback Josh Jacobs this season. That’s just shy of six rushes per game for the freshman, one of three tailbacks that will likely run the ball against Clemson on Monday. Lots of press has been given to Bo Scarbrough—the most talented of the three runners—but fellow sophomore Damien Williams and Jacobs will also have significant responsibilities in the backfield. Williams is actually the Crimson Tide’s leading rusher in terms of carries and yards, but Scarbrough’s role has increased later in the season. The running style of all three backs is similar, but the Tigers will have to corral all three if they want to ground Alabama’s offense.