SANTA CLARA, Calif.– Clemson built a reputation as one of college football’s most dynamic offenses as soon as lanky 6-6 true freshman Trevor Lawrence took over as the Tigers’ starting quarterback after the first game of this undefeated season.

But no one could have predicted the total devastation he would exact on to-ranked Alabama in the College Football Playoff championship game before a crowd of 74,814 at Levi’s Stadium here last night. Lawrence—the Offensive Player of the Game– torched the Tide’s surprisingly vulnerable secondary, completing 20- of- 32 passes for 347 yards and three touchdowns during a 44-16 blowout. He uncorked two bombs of 62- and 74-yards and, at one point, he was eight for 10 for 240 yards in third down situations.

Lawrence said earlier this week he dreamed about playing in this game last year. “It was surreal,’’ he said. “Even better than I thought.’’

Lawrence is living the dream. He is already arguably the best NFL prospect of any quarterback in college football. “Trevor Lawrence is a special talent,’’ Saban said. “I saw him as a sophomore in high school. He was a special player then. I think he was helped by playing in a similar system played in during high school.  I think we’re see more freshman quarterbacks contributing. The training is more extensive. There’s a lot more seven-on-seven going on out there.’’   

The ACC champions, who are the first 15-0 team in college football history, finished with 482 yards total offense, converting 10 of 15 third downs and dominating this game between college basketball’s two best teams by scoring keeping their foot on the pedal and scoring the last 30 points of the game. All American running back Travis Etienne added to the luster, contributing 86 yards rushing and two touchdowns.

“A Hollywood producer type—even a Steven Spielberg type—couldn’t have written this script,’’ Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. “We’ll little ol’ Clemson. We’re not supposed to be the first team to go 15-0. This was an amazing night. And I’m glad to be part of it twice in the last three years. We had a clear vision of the way we wanted this to go tonight. Our guys have the eye of the Tiger.’’

Alabama’s dynamic sophomore quarterback Tua Tagovailoa—who finished second in the Heisman balloting– completed 22 of 34 passes for 295 yards and two touchdowns in a lost cause. But Tagovailoa also threw two disastrous interceptions, one a 44-yard pick six by cornerback AJ Terrell on the Tide’s first possession of the game that gave Clemson a 7-0 lead, the other a pick by cornerback Trayvon Mullin, the Defensive Player of the game, who returned the ball 46 yards to set up Clemson’s fourth touchdown and give the Tigers a 28-16 lead with 4:36 to play.

“I don’t think they did anything to confuse us,’’ Tagovailoa said. “It was just poor decisions on my part. We came out and we were killing ourselves, shooting ourselves in the foot.  We had a great season. But good is not good enough.’’

Clemson and Alabama have played each other four times since the start of the College Football Playoff on 2014 with each team winning twice.  But this victory could signal a sea change in college football.

Alabama’s iconic coach Nick Saban has won six national championships, five of them at Alabama. The Tide had won their first 12 games by at least 20 points. But Clemson, who last won a national championship in 2017, suddenly appears to be on equal footing with the Tide in terms of coaching and talent. NFL scouts project 40 of 44 starters in this game will go on to play on Sundays.  

But there was little question who had the best team – and best quarterback– in this game.  Lawrence is arguably the best NFL prospect in college football. And Clemson deserves to enter next season as the favorite to repeat but both teams are likely to be ranked 1-2 in the pre-season polls.

Clemson frustrated Alabama to a point where the Tide lost its poise on defense. The Tide fell behind 31-16 at half and had to resort to a fake field goal on the first possession in the third quarter with holder Mack Jones attempting to run for the first down in a fourth and six on the Clemson 22. But he was hit for a two-yard loss and Clemson took over at their own 24-yard line with 9:47 left in the quarter. Three plays later, Lawrence threw 74-yard bomb to freshman wide out Justyn Ross who ironically is from Phenix City, Ala.

“Last five games, he was unreal,’’ Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. “ I had to tell Trevor, “Will you quit throwing crappy ball so he doesn’t have to show off?’’    

Saban pulled Tagovailoa with 11:12, inserting Jalen Hurts in a desperate attempt to kick start the Tide’s offense. But Hurts, who led the Tide to a come from behind 35-27 victory over Georgia in the SEC title game, didn’t have any miracles left in his pocket and the Tide controlled the ball for the final 10:02 of the game.

This was the worst loss for Saban-coached team at Alabama, but he was a standup guy with the media in the post-game. “I don’t think one game defines who you are,’’ he said. “But sometimes you learn more from losing. We certainly didn’t play very well tonight. We just couldn’t get off field on third down. Plenty of chances to score. But we weren’t finishing drives in the red zone. And we were giving up explosive plays.’’