[Whitfield:] Hi, welcome back. College football world, only two teams left standing in the battle for college football's national championship, Clemson and Alabama, rolling over their opponents in the Orange and Cotton Bowls, setting up an epic showdown. CNN's Coy Wire joins us live now from Ft. Lauderdale. Happy new year, Coy. So, definitely not tight games.
[Coy Wire, Cnn Sports:] Awesome games. Happy new year to you, Fredericka. Clemson, they entered this match-up as the nation's lone unbeaten team, No. 1 ranked team, but they were still underdogs to the Big 12 champion, Oklahoma. Now, Clemson, they're seeking their first national title since 1981, but they had to find a way to stop the Sooners' third-ranked scoring offense. And they did. This game was actually close until Clemson exploded in the second half, outscoring Oklahoma 21-0. They were led by the dynamic duo of Wayne Gallman on the ground, who scored twice, and Deshaun Watson, who is the game's offensive MVP with over 330 total yards and two touchdowns, including this one through the air. Now, Clemson, they stay perfect with a 37- 17 victory. Head coach Dabo Sweeney's Clemson Tigers, guys, they have been on an incredible run. And he told me about it just shortly after the game. Check it out.
[Dabo Sweeney, Clemson Head Couch:] It's been an unbelievable year. You know, 2015, to be 14-0, and to earn a chance to play one more time in January of 2016, that's our 17th win in a row and we ain't played Wilson Junior High 17 times. We played some tough people.
[Wire:] No disrespect, Wilson Junior High, Dabo loves you. Now, the other semifinal featured the only team from last season's playoffs to make back. Alabama taking on the Big Ten champs, Michigan State. Nick Saban entered this game with a perfect 8-0 against his former understudies, and Cyrus Jones helped improve that record. His 57-yard punt return for a touchdown was a huge spark, but quarterback Jake Coker played the game of his life, throwing two touchdowns in this Tide's 38-0 smackdown of the Spartans. Now, Coker dedicated this to his brother, who's fighting overseas. And guys, watch the emotion, holding back tears, as he told our Andy Scholes after the game how much this meant to him.
[Jake Coker, Alabama Quarterback:] I just love him, man. He do all this, you know, he's the reason for a lot of this, why I play so hard and try to do what I can do. He's an inspiration, man. I love him to death.
[Wire:] Now, in just ten days, Alabama and Clemson are going to play for that national championship in Arizona. We'll be there, take you with us. While the Tide are looking to win their fourth title under Nick Saban, Clemson and Dabo Sweeney, they have a chance to become the first team in college football history to finish the season a perfect 15-0.