Alabama vs. Clemson: Top X-Factors for CFP National Championship 2016

As the No. 1 Clemson Tigers and No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide prepare to play Jan. 11 in the College Football Playoff National Championship, the names Derrick Henry and Deshaun Watson will be repeated over and over again.

They both deserve the accolades and attention, as Henry ran his way into the record books and to a Heisman Trophy win, while Watson passed for more than 3,000 yards and rushed for more than 1,000 in leading his team to a 14-0 start.

While those two players will be keys to their respective teams winning the game, there are a few other factors that will play a role in the final outcome.

Here's a look at three X-factors that could unexpectedly help decide college football's next national champion: 

Jake Coker and the Alabama Passing Game

Henry set SEC rushing yards and touchdown records this season and is no doubt the heart and soul of the Alabama offense. However, quarterback Jake Coker could play a huge role in the championship game.

After throwing for an average of 191.5 yards the first 13 games of the season, Coker threw for a career-high 286 yards and two touchdowns in a 38-0 Cotton Bowl victory over the No. 3 Michigan State Spartans.

Bruce Feldman of FOX Sports was impressed with Coker's performance:

Coker was on target all night, including on this 41-yard pass to O.J. Howard shared by Alabama Football's Twitter account:

If the senior plays against Clemson like he did Michigan State, it could be a long night for the Tigers. 

Clemson's Defense

By now there isn't a college football fan who hasn't heard of Watson. He's led a Clemson offense that never scored less than 20 points per game and scored more than 40 six times.

Against the No. 4 Oklahoma Sooners in the Orange Bowl, Watson threw for 187 yards and a score while rushing for another 145 and two touchdowns.

However, it was the suffocating Clemson defense against Oklahoma that was more impressive. 

While quarterback Baker Mayfield passed for 311 yards and a touchdown, he also threw two interceptions after tossing just five all season coming into the game. Samaje Perine, who had averaged 162 yards rushing the past three games, was held to just 58 yards on 15 carries.

The Tigers front seven stifled the Sooners all game with plays like this one, per ESPN CollegeFootball:

However, the most eye-popping stat was on the scoreboard, where Clemson held the Sooners to just 17 points. Oklahoma averaged 52.9 points per contest during a seven-game win streak to end the regular season.

While the Clemson offense is going to have to play well against Alabama, the defense is going to have to play like it did—or better—against Oklahoma if the Tigers want to have a shot at winning the championship.

Coaching

Alabama head coach Nick Saban already has three national titles under his belt, while Clemson's Dabo Swinney has to answer questions on a weekly basis as to why his team can't win the big game despite a 75-26 record over eight years with the Tigers.

Saban carries himself with a quiet confidence that may or may not be arrogance. Swinney, on the other hand, loves his team and will tell anyone who will listen about it, per ESPN.com.

"It's been 34 years since Clemson had a chance to win a national championship," he said after knocking off Oklahoma. "I knew that we would be here. It was just a matter of when."

At this point, no one questions anything Saban does, especially after he added offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin, who has taken the Alabama offense to new levels. But with 46 wins in his past 53 games, it's about time to feel the same way about Swinney.

He's been so impressive lately, even a college basketball analyst is weighing in with his thoughts on the coach who has taken Clemson to a bowl game every year he's been at the helm:

Alabama was the favorite to win the title prior to the semifinal games, per Odds Shark, and that could have had as much to do with Saban as it did Henry or the defense.

If the Tide are favored over the No. 1 Tigers, it most likely won't be a shock to Swinney, who addressed his team's underdog role after his semifinal win, per ESPN:

So, go ahead and doubt the coach who has helped lead his team to wins against four top-10 teams this season.

He'll most likely be just fine with it.