Alabama Football: Look Back at the Crimson Tide vs. Clemson Rivalry

Alabama football and the Clemson Tigers will meet again to decide the 2018 National Championship. Before the two colossal teams go head-to-head, let’s look back at this historical rivalry.

The two teams met for the first time at the turn of the 20th century. Alabama football was scoreless in the first three meetings, losing to Clemson by a total of 78 points. A loss to Clemson would not occur again for 112 years. Due to the new college football playoff system, the rivalry has been reborn, and it is stronger than ever.

The Early Years

There is not a better phrase to explain the early years in the Alabama-Clemson rivalry than simply, pure dominance. After a bumpy start in the 1900s, the Crimson Tide reigned supreme throughout the entire rivalry. The match-up stayed solid for at least every four years between 1900 and 1913, but after Bama’s 20-0 victory in 1913, the two teams didn’t meet again until 1931.

The rivalry picked back up and stayed rather consistent. Between 1931 and 1936, Alabama outscored Clemson by a total of 172 points. Under the helm of the legendary Paul “Bear” Bryant, the Crimson Tide met the Tigers in 1966, 30 years after their previous match-up. The Tide continued its dominance and beat Clemson every single year between 1966 and 1969.

After that 1969 victory, the two teams did not meet again until 1975. But, nothing changed between those five years of absence. The Crimson Tide still prevailed in a 56-0 beat down. As per usual, there was a large gap in years when Alabama and Clemson would go head-to-head again. 33 years to be exact. In 2008, the Tide and the Tigers opened regular seasons with each other. History stayed the same and Alabama claimed victory.

The Playoff Wars

In 2014, the nation was introduced to the College Football Playoff system. An impeccably built Alabama football team entered the first playoff but fell short to an Ohio State team on a mission. Meanwhile, Dabo Swinney was in the midst of constructing a college football juggernaut at Clemson.

After another year of maturing, the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Clemson Tigers were prepared and destined to make it to the playoffs. Both teams surpassed the semifinals and made it to the National Championship game. For the first time since 2008, the Tide and Tigers were set for what would soon become an annual contest.

In the first round of the modern-day Ali-Frazier skirmish, the Crimson Tide came out victorious. An extremely close game ended 45-40 with Alabama on top. Mid-way through the following season, it became apparent that the two teams would meet again in the playoffs.

The second round was set. Both teams had managed to exceed their limits. They both looked unstoppable. An oh-so-similar game ended abruptly in the final seconds with a Clemson touchdown. The contest ended with a score of 35-31, and the Tigers took home the trophy.

The third round was going to be slightly different. Instead of both teams overcoming odds and conquering the semifinals to meet in the championship game, this time the two teams would be facing each other in the first round. An even more astounding Alabama football team would meet a questionable Clemson team.

The game was over fast. The Tigers just couldn’t hang with the Tide. Alabama beat Clemson 24-6 and went on to claim the National Championship with a victory over the Georgia Bulldogs. Now, here we are. Round four is upon us. Similar to round two, we will watch the most indomitable teams of college football slug it out.

For the first time in the series, both teams are undefeated. They are both being lead by a couple of, if not the, greatest quarterbacks in the history of NCAA football. We’ve had the Game of the Century, the Super Game II, and the Beat Down in the Big Easy. Now, it’s time, once again, for the Tide and the Tigers to brawl it out. Who brings home the Natty?

Make sure to stay tuned to Bama Hammer in the coming days for analysis and predictions on the National Championship game. As Jan. 7 gets closer, Bama Hammer contributors and writers will provide you with opinionated pieces on round four of Alabama and Clemson.