By: Jamal Smith 
Sports Editor

Alabama and Clemson have proved throughout the year that they are the two best teams in college football. We will find out which of the two is the very best when they face off on Monday, Jan. 11, 2016 for the most coveted prize, the Holy Grail in college football: the College Football National Championship.

Clemson’s football program is at an all-time high. Not only are the Tigers riding a school-record winning streak of 17 games (spanning from last season), but the Tigers are also looking to become the only team in FBS history to go 15-0 in a season.

Standing in Clemson’s way for their second National Championship is SEC powerhouse Alabama. The Crimson Tide have dominated the college football landscape in the past decade and have four National Championships to show for it.

“[Alabama] certainly [has] been the standard in college football for a long, long time,” said Clemson’s head coach Dabo Swinney in an interview with the Los Angeles Times. “But especially since Coach Saban has been there.”

Alabama struggled in the beginning of the season but have won 11 straight games by an average of 23 points per game. One of the major reasons for the Crimson Tide’s late season success can be attributed to the 2015 Heisman winner, Alabama running back Derrick Henry.

Over the course of the season Henry has tallied 2,061 yards rushing and a staggering 25 touchdowns.

Although Clemson’s defense has excelled all year, the Tigers are not as good in defending the run as they are in defending the pass. Alabama on the other hand, is No. 1 in the FBS at stopping the run.

Clemson is, however, much better then Alabama in converting third downs. Clemson ranks 13th in the FBS with a third down conversion success rate of 47.69 percent. Alabama is ranked 96th with a third down conversion success rate of 36.22 percent.

Who is the best team? We will find out Monday when the champ will be crowned.