Clemson coach Dabo Swinney and Alabama coach Nick Saban meet briefly for a photo opp with the Sugar Bowl trophy Sunday morning in New Orleans.
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Clemson coach Dabo Swinney and Alabama coach Nick Saban meet during a press conference Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017 in New Orleans. Alabama and Clemson are facing off for the third consecutive year in the College Football Playoff. The first two games were for national championships. [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney and Alabama coach Nick Saban meet during a press conference Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017 in New Orleans. Alabama and Clemson are facing off for the third consecutive year in the College Football Playoff. The first two games were for national championships. [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney and Alabama coach Nick Saban meet during a press conference Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017 in New Orleans. Alabama and Clemson are facing off for the third consecutive year in the College Football Playoff. The first two games were for national championships. [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney and Alabama coach Nick Saban meet during a press conference Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017 in New Orleans. Alabama and Clemson are facing off for the third consecutive year in the College Football Playoff. The first two games were for national championships. [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney and Alabama coach Nick Saban meet during a press conference Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017 in New Orleans. Saban smiles during the conference. He playfully chided the media for having a lack of intensity when few questions were asked early in the press conference. Alabama and Clemson are facing off for the third consecutive year in the College Football Playoff. The first two games were for national championships. [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney and Alabama coach Nick Saban meet during a press conference Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017 in New Orleans. Alabama and Clemson are facing off for the third consecutive year in the College Football Playoff. The first two games were for national championships. [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney and Alabama coach Nick Saban meet during a press conference Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017 in New Orleans. Alabama and Clemson are facing off for the third consecutive year in the College Football Playoff. The first two games were for national championships. [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney and Alabama coach Nick Saban meet during a press conference Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017 in New Orleans. Alabama and Clemson are facing off for the third consecutive year in the College Football Playoff. The first two games were for national championships. [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney and Alabama coach Nick Saban meet during a press conference Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017 in New Orleans. Alabama and Clemson are facing off for the third consecutive year in the College Football Playoff. The first two games were for national championships. [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney and Alabama coach Nick Saban meet during a press conference Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017 in New Orleans. Alabama and Clemson are facing off for the third consecutive year in the College Football Playoff. The first two games were for national championships. [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney and Alabama coach Nick Saban meet during a press conference Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017 in New Orleans. Alabama and Clemson are facing off for the third consecutive year in the College Football Playoff. The first two games were for national championships. [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney and Alabama coach Nick Saban meet during a press conference Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017 in New Orleans. Alabama and Clemson are facing off for the third consecutive year in the College Football Playoff. The first two games were for national championships. [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney and Alabama coach Nick Saban meet during a press conference Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017 in New Orleans. Alabama and Clemson are facing off for the third consecutive year in the College Football Playoff. The first two games were for national championships. [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney and Alabama coach Nick Saban meet during a press conference Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017 in New Orleans. Alabama and Clemson are facing off for the third consecutive year in the College Football Playoff. The first two games were for national championships. [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney and Alabama coach Nick Saban meet during a press conference Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017 in New Orleans. Alabama and Clemson are facing off for the third consecutive year in the College Football Playoff. The first two games were for national championships. [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney and Alabama coach Nick Saban meet during a press conference Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017 in New Orleans. Alabama and Clemson are facing off for the third consecutive year in the College Football Playoff. The first two games were for national championships. [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney and Alabama coach Nick Saban meet during a press conference Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017 in New Orleans. Alabama and Clemson are facing off for the third consecutive year in the College Football Playoff. The first two games were for national championships. [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney and Alabama coach Nick Saban meet during a press conference Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017 in New Orleans. Alabama and Clemson are facing off for the third consecutive year in the College Football Playoff. The first two games were for national championships. [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney and Alabama coach Nick Saban meet during a press conference Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017 in New Orleans. Alabama and Clemson are facing off for the third consecutive year in the College Football Playoff. The first two games were for national championships. [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]