MIAMI GARDENS, FL — Scores and recaps from the college football bowl games played on New Year’s Eve on Thursday. Alabama and Clemson landed college football playoffs semifinal wins.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF SEMIFINAL – Box Score
NO. 2 ALABAMA 38, NO. 3 MICHIGAN STATE 0
MIAMI GARDENS, FL — Jake Coker delivered a career-best performance to lead No. 2 Alabama to a dominating 38-0 victory over Michigan State to advance to the College Football national championship game.
Entering the matchup, Coker was well aware that he would need to play a vital part at the quarterback position and throw the ball more, and that he did — completing 25 of 30 passes for a career-high 286 yards and two touchdowns.
With the victory, the Crimson Tide (13-1) will now meet the undefeated No. 1 Clemson (14-0) in Arizona on Jan. 11 — hunting its fourth national title in nine seasons under the guidance of head coach Nick Saban.
Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry had a quiet night by his standard, but was still effective — rushing 20 times for 75 yards and two touchdowns.
Calvin Ridley caught eight passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns and Cyrus Jones returned a punt 57 yards for a score in the win for Alabama, which used its solid defense to suffocate Michigan State en route to securing the Cotton Bowl college football playoff semifinal.
Connor Cook threw for 210 yards, but was sacked four times in the defeat for Michigan State which finished with just 29 rushing yards.
The Spartans (12-2) went into the contest averaging over 160 yards rushing per contest.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF SEMIFINAL – Box Score
NO. 1 CLEMSON 37, NO. 4 OKLAHOMA 17
No. 1 Clemson outscored No. 4 Oklahoma 21-0 in the second half en route to a commanding 37-17 victory in the Capital One Orange Bowl win and earned a place in the college football national championship.
The ACC champions were advancing to its second-ever national championships.
“It’s been 34 years since Clemson had a chance to win a national championship,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said.
“I knew that we would be here. It was just a matter of when.”
Quarterback Deshaun Watson accounted for 332 yards and two touchdowns and Wayne Gallman ran for 150 yards and two scores to set a new Clemson record for rush yards in a single season as the top-ranked Tigers (14-0) remained undefeated this term.
The Sooners (11-2) who entered the matchup as the favorite, were unable to get their running game going, as Clemson came in with a plan and stuck to it throughout the entire battle, despite trailing 17-16 at halftime.
Baker Mayfield went 26 of 41 on completed passes for 311 yards and one touchdown, but threw two interceptions and was sacked five times by the Tigers defense.
Watson completed 16 of 31 passes for 187 yards, including a 35-yard touchdown strike to Hunter Renfrow, while for 145 yards on 24 carries.
Dating back to last year, Clemson has now won 17 straight games.
College Football Bowl Games Scores
New Year’s Eve 2015
ORANGE BOWL – COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF SEMIFINAL
NO. 1 CLEMSON 37, NO. 4 OKLAHOMA 17
COTTON BOWL – COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF SEMIFINAL
NO. 2 ALABAMA 38, NO. 3 MICHIGAN STATE 0
PEACH BOWL
NO. 14 HOUSTON 38, NO. 9 FLORIDA STATE 24
