ATLANTA — Alabama showed off all its threats in the Southeastern Conference championship game Saturday.

Now the Crimson Tide can expect a return trip to Atlanta for the College Football Playoff.

Alabama receiver ArDarius Stewart is hit by Jachai Polite, left, and Daniel McMillian of Florida after making a catch during the second half of the Southeastern Conference championship game Saturday in Atlanta. Alabama won 54-16 and is expected to return to Atlanta on Dec. 31 for a national semifinal. Associated Press/John Bazemore

The nation’s No. 1 team scored off a blocked punt and an interception return before wearing down No. 15 Florida in the second half with a dominant running game. The result was a 54-16 rout that positioned Alabama to go for its second straight national title and its fifth crown in the last nine years under Coach Nick Saban.

Next up: a likely semifinal at the Georgia Dome on Dec. 31.

“You don’t always get what you want in life but you mostly get what you deserve,” said Saban, who is one away from tying Bear Bryant for the most national titles by any coach. “These guys have done a fantastic job all year long to win 13 games and the SEC.”

The Crimson Tide (13-0) bolted to a 16-9 lead in the first quarter, despite being held to minus-7 yards and no first downs. They scored one touchdown off a blocked punt, another off an interception return. A field goal was set up by another pick – one of three thrown by Florida quarterback Austin Appleby in the first half.

The Tide led 33-16 at halftime and iced the victory with scoring drives of 98 and 91 yards, sparked by a goal-line stand that finished off the last gasp by the Gators (8-4).

ATLANTIC COAST: Deshaun Watson passed for three touchdowns and ran for two more to lead Clemson (12-1) to a 42-35 victory against Virginia Tech (9-4) in the championship game at Orlando, Florida.

Watson completed 23 of 34 passes for 288 yards, including TDs of 21 and 10 yards to Jordan Leggett and 15 yards to Hunter Renfrow for a 42-28 lead midway through the fourth quarter. He also rushed for 85 yards on 17 attempts for the Tigers, who won back-to-back ACC titles for the first time since winning three straight from 1986-88.

BIG TEN: Trace McSorley threw four touchdown passes and Penn State (11-2) stunned Wisconsin (10-3) 38-31, rallying from a 21-point first-half deficit at Indianapolis to claim its first conference title in eight years with the greatest comeback in Big Ten title game history.

The Nittany Lions trailed 28-7 with 5:15 left in the first half, but McSorley led Penn State to touchdowns on each of its next four possessions, finally taking a 35-31 lead on an 18-yard TD pass to Saquon Barkley with 13:41 left in the game.

AMERICAN ATHLETIC: Phillip Walker threw two touchdown passes and Temple (10-3) claimed its first league title by beating Navy (9-3) 34-10 at Annapolis, Maryland.

After Temple scored touchdowns on its first three possessions, protecting the 21-0 lead became substantially easier when No. 20 Navy lost standout quarterback Will Worth to a second-quarter ankle injury.

MOUNTAIN WEST: Rashaad Penny rushed for 117 yards and two touchdowns, and Donnel Pumphrey added 110 yards and one TD as San Diego State (10-3) beat Wyoming (8-5) 27-24 at Laramie, Wyoming, for its second consecutive championship.

Penny also gained 113 yards on two kickoff returns and had 13 receiving yards.

REGULAR SEASON

(7) OKLAHOMA 38, (11) OKLAHOMA STATE 20: Baker Mayfield passed for 288 yards and three touchdowns, and Oklahoma (10-2, 9-0 Big 12) defeated Oklahoma State (9-3, 7-2) at Norman, Oklahoma, in a matchup that decided the Big 12 champion.

Samaje Perine rambled for 239 yards on 37 carries for the Sooners, who won their 10th Big 12 title under Coach Bob Stoops.

SOUTH ALABAMA 35, NEW MEXICO STATE 28: Xavier Johnson rushed for 154 yards and three touchdowns, both career bests, and South Alabama (6-6, 2-6 Sun Belt) became bowl eligible with a win over New Mexico State (3-9, 2-6) at Mobile, Alabama.

Johnson’s 35-yard scoring run with 2:28 to play capped a 21-point fourth quarter for the Jaguars.

KANSAS STATE 30, TEXAS CHRISTIAN 6: Jesse Ertz ran for a career-high 170 yards with a touchdown and threw an 83-yard scoring pass as Kansas State (8-4, 6-3 Big 12) beat TCU (6-6, 4-5) at Fort Worth, Texas.

Coach Bill Snyder got his 201st victory in 25 seasons with the Wildcats, who next will play in their 20th bowl game – the 19th under Snyder. Kansas State appears headed to the Houston Bowl to play an SEC team.

WEST VIRGINIA 24, BAYLOR 21: Skyler Howard threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score, and West Virginia (10-2, 7-2 Big 12) held off Baylor (6-6, 3-6) at Morgantown, West Virginia.

After the game, West Virginia Athletic Director Shane Lyons announced in a statement that Coach Dana Holgorsen was given a five-year contract extension to 2021.

FCS PLAYOFFS

JAMES MADISON 55, NEW HAMPSHIRE 22: Bryan Schor threw for 371 yards and five touchdowns, and fourth-seeded James Madison (11-1) rolled into the quarterfinals by beating New Hampshire (8-5) at Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Schor completed 30 of 37 passes for a career-high 371 yards, fourth-best in school history, and tied the school mark for TD passes for the second time.

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 10, VILLANOVA 7: Chase Vinatieri – nephew of NFL kicker Adam Vinatieri – banked a 42-yard field goal off the right upright with 1:21 left to lift the Jackrabbits (9-3) over Villanova (9-4) in the second round at Brookings, South Dakota.

RICHMOND 27, NORTH DAKOTA 24: Griffin Trau kicked an 18-yard field goal as time ran out to complete a comeback from a 17-point deficit as Richmond (10-3) defeated North Dakota (9-3) at Grand Forks, North Dakota.

NOTES

TEXAS: The university regents gave new football coach Tom Herman a five-year contract worth at least $25 million.

OKLAHOMA: Quarterback Baker Mayfield will return for his senior season.

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