The College Football BeltThe CFB Belt
Belt / 2016 season / Reign #297 · Game 1,514 of 1,643
December 31, 2016 Postseason Neutral site Belt defended

Alabama defends the belt, 24–7, at a neutral site over Washington.

Home · Defending Holder
AlabamaAP No. 1 24
AT
Away · Challenger
WashingtonAP No. 4 7

AP poll, week 15: Washington No. 4 at Alabama No. 1 · No. 1 that week: Florida. The belt vs. the polls →

Belt context

Where this game sits in the lineage

Alabama came in 70 days into reign #297, which began with a win over Texas A&M, with 5 defenses already behind it; this was its 6th defense. It was the last defense: Clemson took the belt in the very next belt game, on January 9, 2017.

For Washington this was its 22nd shot at the belt; it had held the belt 10 times before.

This is the only time Alabama and Washington have met with the belt on the line.

AI-Written

Recap

Alabama's defense dominated Washington from the start in this New Year's Eve clash, forcing three turnovers to maintain control of the college football belt. Washington struck first with a Jake Browning touchdown pass to Dante Pettis in the first quarter, but Alabama answered immediately with Bo Scarbrough's 18-yard rushing touchdown. The turning point came in the second quarter when Ryan Anderson returned an interception for a touchdown, extending Alabama's lead to 17-7. Alabama put the game away in the fourth quarter when Scarbrough broke free for a dominant 68-yard touchdown run, capping a performance where Alabama rushed for 269 yards while holding Washington to just 44 rushing yards and forcing the Huskies into critical mistakes.

Written by Claude from the box score and play-by-play on this page — a plain-English recap of the numbers below, not a substitute for them.

Full Box Score

Team stats

CFBD box score
 AlabamaWashington
Total yards326194
Rushing yards26944
Passing yards57150
First downs1614
3rd down conv.4/146/17
Turnovers03
Penalties–yards10–662–10
Time of possession30:4529:15

Full team box score from CFBD’s /games/teams data. This section only appears for belt games from 2003 onward — CFBD doesn’t have team-level stats that far back.

Play By Play

Key plays

CFBD play-by-play
WhenTeamYardsPlay
Q1 11:53Alabama+49 ydJK Scott punt for 49 yds , Dante Pettis returns for a loss of 1 yard to the Wash 36
Q1 10:30Washington+20 ydJake Browning pass complete to Myles Gaskin for 20 yds to the Alab 27 for a 1ST down
Q1 8:01Washington+16 ydJake Browning pass complete to Dante Pettis for 16 yds for a TD, (Cameron Van Winkle KICK)
Q1 8:01Washington+20 ydTristan Vizcaino kickoff for 63 yds , ArDarius Stewart return for 20 yds to the Alab 22
Q1 5:01Alabama+18 ydBo Scarbrough run for 18 yds for a TD, (Adam Griffith KICK)
Q1 2:22Washington+6 ydJake Browning pass complete to John Ross for 6 yds John Ross fumbled, forced by Anthony Averett, recovered by Alab Jonathan Allen , return for 10 yds to the Wash 40
Q2 14:55Alabama+41 ydAdam Griffith 41 yd FG GOOD
Q2 1:13Washington-26 ydJake Browning pass intercepted for a TD Ryan Anderson return for 26 yds for a TD, (Adam Griffith KICK)
Q3 15:00Washington+25 ydTristan Vizcaino kickoff for 65 yds , ArDarius Stewart return for 25 yds to the Alab 25
Q3 14:50Alabama+33 ydJalen Hurts run for 33 yds to the Wash 42 for a 1ST down
Q3 7:30Alabama-2 ydJalen Hurts run for a loss of 2 yards to the Alab 38 Jalen Hurts fumbled, forced by Elijah Qualls, recovered by Alab Jonah Williams
Q3 5:00Washington-7 ydTEAM run for a loss of 7 yards to the Wash 6 TEAM fumbled, recovered by Wash Jake Browning
Q3 4:31Washington+42 ydTristan Vizcaino punt for 42 yds, punt out-of-bounds at the Wash 48 ALABAMA Penalty, Running Into Kicker ( Yards) declined
Q4 11:56Alabama+68 ydBo Scarbrough run for 68 yds for a TD, (Adam Griffith KICK)
Q4 0:24Washington-28 ydJake Browning pass intercepted Minkah Fitzpatrick return for 28 yds to the Alab 28
Q1 12:20Clemson+20 ydDeshaun Watson pass complete to Jordan Leggett for 5 yds to the Clem 35 for a 1ST down ALABAMA Penalty, Personal Foul (Reuben Foster) to the 50 yard line for a 1ST down
Q1 9:23Alabama+25 ydBo Scarbrough 25 Yd Run (Adam Griffith Kick)
Q1 10:21Alabama+20 ydJalen Hurts run for 20 yds to the Clem 39 for a 1ST down
Q1 9:23Alabama+34 ydAdam Griffith kickoff for 55 yds , Artavis Scott return for 34 yds to the CLEMSON 44 CLEMSON Penalty, Personal Foul (Grant Radakovich) to the Clem 29
Q1 2:30Alabama+25 ydJK Scott punt blocked by Tanner Muse, downed at CLEMSON 37
Q1 1:50Clemson+2 ydDeshaun Watson run for a loss of 5 yards to the Clem 37 Deshaun Watson fumbled, recovered by Alab Ryan Anderson , return for 2 yds to the Clem 35
Q2 10:42Alabama+37 ydBo Scarbrough 37 Yd Run (Adam Griffith Kick)
Q2 12:06Alabama+25 ydArDarius Stewart run for 25 yds to the Clem 49 for a 1ST down
Q2 7:17Clemson+43 ydDeshaun Watson pass complete to Deon Cain for 43 yds to the Alab 39 for a 1ST down
Q2 6:54Clemson+26 ydDeshaun Watson pass complete to Jordan Leggett for 26 yds to the Alab 13 for a 1ST down
Q2 6:09Clemson+8 ydDeshaun Watson 8 Yd Run (Greg Huegel Kick)
Q2 4:17Clemson+20 ydDeshaun Watson pass complete to Mike Williams for 20 yds to the Clem 45 for a 1ST down
Q3 13:54Clemson+12 ydWayne Gallman run for a loss of 4 yards to the Clem 34 Wayne Gallman fumbled, forced by Ryan Anderson, recovered by Alab Ryan Anderson at the Clem 28, return for 12 yds to the Clem 16
Q3 15:00Alabama+25 ydAdam Griffith kickoff for 63 yds , C.J. Fuller return for 25 yds to the Clem 27
Q3 12:25Alabama+27 ydAdam Griffith 27 Yd Field Goal
Q3 7:10Clemson+24 ydHunter Renfrow 24 Yd pass from Deshaun Watson (Greg Huegel Kick)
Q3 7:10Clemson+30 ydGreg Huegel kickoff for 63 yds , ArDarius Stewart return for 30 yds to the Alab 32
Q3 1:53Alabama+68 ydO.J. Howard 68 Yd pass from Jalen Hurts (Adam Griffith Kick)
Q4 14:00Clemson+4 ydMike Williams 4 Yd pass from Deshaun Watson (Greg Huegel Kick)
Q3 1:53Alabama+24 ydAdam Griffith kickoff for 61 yds , Artavis Scott return for 24 yds to the Clem 28
Q4 4:38Clemson+1 ydWayne Gallman 1 Yd Run (Greg Huegel Kick)
Q4 5:32Clemson+41 ydDeshaun Watson pass complete to Mike Williams for 26 yds to the ALABAMA 31 for a 1ST down ALABAMA Penalty, Unsportsmanlike Conduct (Da'Ron Payne) to the Alab 16 for a 1ST down
Q4 2:41Alabama+24 ydArDarius Stewart pass complete to O.J. Howard for 24 yds to the Clem 30 for a 1ST down
Q4 2:07Alabama+30 ydJalen Hurts 30 Yd Run (Adam Griffith Kick)
Q4 2:07Alabama+20 ydAdam Griffith kickoff for 53 yds , C.J. Fuller return for 20 yds to the Clem 32
Q4 1:56Clemson+24 ydDeshaun Watson pass complete to Mike Williams for 24 yds to the Alab 39 for a 1ST down
Q4 0:01Clemson+2 ydHunter Renfrow 2 Yd pass from Deshaun Watson (Greg Huegel Kick)

Scoring plays, turnovers, and gains of 20+ yards, pulled from CFBD’s play-by-play. This section only appears for belt games with play-by-play on file (2003 onward).

Box Score

Player stats

CFBD player stats

Passing

Alabama

PlayerC/ATTYDSAVGTDINTQBR
Jalen Hurts7/14574.10014.2

Washington

PlayerC/ATTYDSAVGTDINTQBR
Jake Browning20/381503.91214.2

Rushing

Alabama

PlayerCARYDSAVGTDLONG
Bo Scarbrough191809.5268
Jalen Hurts19502.6033
Damien Harris9303.308
ArDarius Stewart2105.009
Team1-1-1.000

Washington

PlayerCARYDSAVGTDLONG
Myles Gaskin10343.4010
Chico McClatcher11616.0016
Lavon Coleman7162.305
K.J. Carta-Samuels133.003
Jomon Dotson133.003
Team1-7-7.000
Jake Browning8-21-2.6013

Receiving

Alabama

PlayerRECYDSAVGTDLONG
O.J. Howard44411.0016
Gehrig Dieter11010.0010
Calvin Ridley166.006
Josh Jacobs1-3-3.00-3

Washington

PlayerRECYDSAVGTDLONG
Myles Gaskin5408.0020
John Ross5285.609
Aaron Fuller22713.5016
Dante Pettis3268.7116
Andre Baccellia11515.0015
Quinten Pounds11212.0012
Drew Sample188.008
Chico McClatcher2-6-3.001
Show more stats (7 more categories)

Defense

Alabama

PlayerTOTSOLOSACKSTFLPDQB HURTD
Reuben Foster9300000
Anthony Averett8611000
Rashaan Evans7411000
Ronnie Harrison6500000
Minkah Fitzpatrick6400000
Jonathan Allen6212000
Tony Brown540.51.5000
Dalvin Tomlinson4000000
Da'Ron Payne4000000
Ryan Anderson3100001
Tim Williams210.50.5000
Keaton Anderson2100000
Joshua Frazier1111000
Da'Shawn Hand1100000
Keith Holcombe1000000
Christian Miller1000000
Anfernee Jennings1000000
Marlon Humphrey0000100

Washington

PlayerTOTSOLOSACKSTFLPDQB HURTD
Kevin King9401000
JoJo McIntosh8402000
Taylor Rapp7200000
Keishawn Bierria7101000
Budda Baker6311100
Elijah Qualls6200000
DJ Beavers5300000
Ben Burr-Kirven5000000
Vita Vea4211000
Psalm Wooching3200000
Greg Gaines3200000
Jaylen Johnson3201.5000
Benning Potoa'e3200000
Tevis Bartlett2211000
Sidney Jones2100000
Damion Turpin1100000
Kaleb McGary1100000
Trey Adams1100000
Lavon Coleman1000000
Andre Baccellia1000.5000
Ezekiel Turner1000000

Fumbles

Alabama

PlayerFUMLOSTREC
Jonathan Allen001
Jalen Hurts100

Washington

PlayerFUMLOSTREC
John Ross110
Team100

Interceptions

Alabama

PlayerINTYDSTD
Ryan Anderson1261
Minkah Fitzpatrick1280

Washington

No recorded stats in this category.

Kick Returns

Alabama

PlayerNOYDSAVGLONGTD
ArDarius Stewart24522.5250

Washington

PlayerNOYDSAVGLONGTD
John Ross34715.7180

Kicking

Alabama

PlayerFGPCTLONGXPPTS
Adam Griffith1/1100.0413/36

Washington

PlayerFGPCTLONGXPPTS
Cameron Van Winkle0/00.001/11

Punt Returns

Alabama

PlayerNOYDSAVGLONGTD
Trevon Diggs133.030

Washington

PlayerNOYDSAVGLONGTD
Dante Pettis252.560

Punting

Alabama

PlayerNOYDSAVGTBIn 20LONG
JK Scott836745.90055

Washington

PlayerNOYDSAVGTBIn 20LONG
Tristan Vizcaino837346.60065
Jake Browning15050.00050

Full player stats from CFBD’s /games/players data, split out by team. This section only appears for belt games from 2003 onward — CFBD doesn’t have player-level stats that far back. Linked player names go to that player’s stat line in every other belt game they’ve appeared in.

Sources Box score at ESPN · Game record: College Football Data (id 400876107) · This game in the downloadable dataset