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Bengals players react to Clemson’s win over Alabama in the National Championship game

Three former members of the Crimson Tide and two former Tigers are on the Bengals’ roster. You can bet they were rooting for their college teams on Monday night.

By Rebecca Toback
NCAA Football: CFP National Championship-Clemson vs Alabama Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Bengals have three former Alabama players (Dre Kirkpatrick, AJ McCarron and Wallace Gilberry) and two former Clemson players (DeShawn Williams and Brandon Thompson) on their roster, so there were some significant rooting interests in Cincinnati for the College Football Playoff National Championship game.

As you’d expect with the country’s No. 1 team facing the No. 2 team, there were quite a few intriguing players on display in the championship game, many of whom could be first round picks in the 2017 NFL Draft.

While the Crimson Tide got off to a hot start, the Tigers kept it competitive throughout the game and took their first lead in the fourth quarter. They didn’t hang onto it though and with two minutes remaining, Clemson needed to march down the field in an attempt to tie up the game with a field goal or take the lead on a touchdown. The Tigers took the touchdown route and became the first team to beat Alabama all season, winning the National Championship title.

Deshaun Watson finished off his Clemson career with a national championship and an impressive effort. His play at Clemson will be remembered for quite a long time and now he heads off to the NFL and approaches the draft with this memorable game to look back on.

Here are the reactions from Bengals players to the College Football Playoff National Championship game. Tweets are seen in the order in which they were sent.

Kirkpatrick is of course talking about Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster, who’s projected to be a first round pick.

Kirkpatrick has red Uggs to represent his Alabama team.

Carlos Dunlap was bored, though, the offensive action picked up a bit.

Let's go!! #rtr

A photo posted by Dre Kirkpatrick (@drepic6) on

More Foster talk... The Bengals players are impressed.

A reaction to one of Mike Williams’ terrific catches:

Kirkpatrick was hoping the refs would help out Alabama; they didn’t as Williams’ catch was clearly a catch.

He’s talking about the refs...

Here’s that catch from Williams:

After Clemson took their first lead in the fourth quarter, here’s what Kirkpatrick had to say:

And... when Alabama took back the lead with less than three minutes remaining:

LaFell seemed to be rooting for Clemson, which isn’t surprising.

With 14 seconds remaining and Clemson down 31-28 with the ball:

And when Clemson took back the lead with one second remaining:

Williams was obviously happy!

Not everyone was sold on Clemson’s win...

Here’s what AJ McCarron had to say:

Back to the Clemson end of things...

Kirkpatrick made sure to end the night with some kind words.

Congratulations to Clemson on their National Championship win.

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