TAMPA, Fla. — Dabo Swinney wishes he would have punted the football on the Tigers’ opening possession instead of going for fourth-and-one from the Alabama 41. Running back Wayne Gallman was stopped for no gain and Alabama made its early statement.

The Crimson Tide owned Clemson from that point. Running back Bo Scarbrough rushed for 76 yards and two touchdowns to pace the Crimson Tide to a 14-7 halftime lead.

Following Bama’s fourth-down stop, it needed just three plays to go 59 yards as Scrabrough raced 25 yards off the left side to put the Tide up 7-0 with 9:23 to play in the first.

Alabama’s held the Tigers scoreless in the first quarter, just the third time that has happened this season for the Tigers. Clemson had outscored its opposition 176-27 in the first quarter this season.

After a couple exchange of punts the Crimson Tide extended their lead to 14-0 when Scrabrough again went around the left side for a 37-yard touchdown with 10:42 to play in the first quarter.

Clemson finally got aggressive midway through the second quarter, when Deon Cain took a pass from quarterback Deshaun Watson and then moved his way in and out of the Alabama secondary for a 43-yard gain to the Alabama 39.

Three plays later on third-and-10, Watson found tight end Jordan Leggett down the middle of the field for a 26-yard gain to Bama 13. After a 5-yard pass to Mike Williams, Watson called his own number and ran off the left side for an 8-yard touchdown, cutting the Bama lead to 14-7 with 6:09 to play in the half.

Clemson finished the first half with 203 yards to Alabama’s 183. Watson was 13 of 23 for 153 yards. Gallman finished the first half with 12 carries for 49 yards.