Sarkisian protected the lead
Alabama ran the ball 21 times in the first half, 13 in the second.
Those two sentences are vintage Sark.
Protecting a lead would have been relying on the run, but Sark going to Sark and started chucking it.
I get Clemson was defending against the run, but keeping the clock running should have been a priority.
Even three yards a carry (Alabama was averaging 6.5) would have been enough to win that game.