Getting revenge for a crushing defeat last season, the Alabama Crimson Tide beat the Clemson Tigers in the Sugar Bowl, 24-6, on Monday night to set up an all-Southeastern Conference national championship game against the Georgia Bulldogs on Jan. 8 in Atlanta.

No. 4 Alabama rode a familiar formula of defense and efficiency to its sixth championship game appearance in Coach Nick Saban’s 11 years with the team. Saban has won five national championships as a head coach, one shy of Bear Bryant’s record.

At the Superdome in New Orleans, Alabama jumped out to a quick lead. The Crimson Tide scored on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Jalen Hurts to Calvin Ridley after Hurts escaped trouble in the backfield and initially looked as if he might try to run it. When the first quarter ended, Alabama led, 10-0, and also had 102 total yards, while Clemson had minus-7.

But the top-ranked Tigers managed to put together a small rally. Alex Spence connected on a 44-yard field goal that cut the Crimson Tide’s lead to 10-3 with 10 minutes left in the first half. In the third quarter, Hurts fumbled when he tried to pull the ball back after he had started to hand off to Damien Harris. Clemson linebacker Kendall Joseph recovered on the Alabama 20-yard line, and Spence added a field goal to make it 10-6.