<Tr> <Td> <2015 </Td> <Td> 2017> </Td> </Tr> <P> The 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship was a bowl game that determined the national champion of NCAA Division I FBS college football for the 2015 season . It was played at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on January 11, 2016, and was the culminating game of the 2015--16 bowl season . </P> <P> The game was played between the winners of two pre-designated semifinal bowls played on December 31, 2015: the No. 1 Clemson Tigers, who beat the No. 4 Oklahoma Sooners 37--17 at the Orange Bowl, coached by Dabo Swinney in his 8th season, and the No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide, who shut out the No. 3 Michigan State Spartans 38--0 at the Cotton Bowl Classic, coached by Nick Saban . </P> <P> The 13--1 Alabama Crimson Tide won the game, holding off the undefeated Clemson Tigers 45--40 in the fourth quarter . Accompanied by a talented receiving corps, Clemson's Heisman Finalist quarterback Deshaun Watson had a historic performance, setting the record for most total yards in national championship game history, with 478 yards (405 passing / 73 rushing) against the nation's third - ranked defense in Alabama, breaking the record previously set by Vince Young in the 2006 Rose Bowl . Following the game, the AP Poll also named Alabama as its top team of the season, giving Alabama their fourth title in seven seasons . Both Clemson and Alabama finished the season 14--1 . </P>

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