GLENDALE, Arizona (AP) — Alabama did it again, and the dynasty is as good as ever.

A daring onside kick turned the tide in Alabama’s favour and touched off a second-half scoring explosion and the Crimson Tide beat Clemson 45-40 in the national championship last night.

The thrill-a-minute game in the desert delivered a dazzling display of touchdowns, including two long pass plays from Jake Coker, the Alabama quarterback, to OJ Howard.

The victory gives Alabama (14-1) their fourth national title in seven years, an incredible run under coach Nick Saban. Clemson (14-1) came into the game ranked No 1 with a perfect record.

Derrick Henry, the running back, carried 36 times for 158 yards and three touchdowns, a 50-yarder and a pair of one-yard runs. His final score came with 1:21 left following a 63-yard Coker-to-Howard pass play.

Howard had five catches for 208 yards.

Deshaun Watson, the Clemson quarterback, kept his team even before Alabama went bonkers with a 24-point fourth quarter.

It’s the Crimson Tide’s sixteenth national championship in school history, and a fifth national title for Saban, further cementing his status in college football history. He trails only the late Paul “Bear” Bryant in national titles since 1936, Bryant had six.

It’s Alabama’s fourth consecutive win over a No 1-ranked team in the Associated Press poll, a streak that dates back to 2011. For Henry, he becomes only the fifth running back in Heisman Trophy history to add a national title to the honour in the same season.

The Tide won while overcoming a brilliant performance by Watson, who finished 30-of-47 passing for 405 yards and four touchdowns while also rushing for 73 yards.

The game turned when Saban had the guts to call for an onside kick with the scores tied at 24, and the Crimson Tide recovered with 10:34 on the clock. Two plays later, Howard, the tight end, was wide open for a 51-yard touchdown catch from Coker, and it gave Alabama a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

It was a call you wouldn’t necessarily expect from the typically risk-averse Saban, but it paid off by shifting the momentum in Alabama’s favour.

Kenyan Drake then electrified the crowd with a 95-yard kickoff return to give Alabama a 38-27 lead, following a field goal that cut the gap to four points.

Earlier Henry had given Alabama the lead with a 50-yard run midway through the first quarter. Henry took a handoff from Coker, shook a few would-be tacklers and broke into the clear for the score.

The lead did not last long, with Clemson tying the game up at 7-7 moments later when Watson fired a perfect pass to Hunter Renfrow in the left corner of the end zone for a 31-yard touchdown on the ensuing drive after Alabama took the lead.

Watson then gave Clemson the lead as the first quarter came to a close, with another touchdown pass to Renfrow, after Alabama had missed a field goal attempt. Alabama came into the game having allowed 19 first-quarter points all season.

Henry then ran for his second touchdown to tie the game at 14, and Clemson had a chance to take the lead at the end of the half, but Greg Huegel’s 44-yard field goal attempt was tipped by D.J. Pettway and fell short.

The Clemson defence was hurt by the loss of cornerback Mackensie Alexander, who limped off the field early after being questionable for the game with a hamstring injury sustained in the Tigers’ victory over Oklahoma on New Year’s Eve.

Still, the Tigers led 24-21 after Wayne Gallman’s one-yard run with 4:48 left in the third quarter capped a nine-play, 60-yard drive.