THE LATEST: Roof stays closed for national title game

By foxsports
Published

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) The latest developments from the College Football Playoff national championship game between Clemson and Alabama (all times local):

5 p.m.

The retractable roof at University of Phoenix Stadium will remain closed for Monday night's national championship game between Alabama and Clemson.

This is not a huge surprise, but the weather outside the stadium is sunny with temperatures in the 60s - at least 90 minutes or so before the opening kickoff.

A College Football Playoff spokesman said consistency is the reason the roof is closed. It's still winter in the desert, and weather conditions could change as the game progresses. Over the past few days, it's been chilly and rainy.

The roof is rarely open for Arizona Cardinals games, but was open for last year's Super Bowl when New England beat Seattle.

Outside the stadium, the parking lots were filling up with a Clemson orange tinge more prominent than Alabama crimson.

Inside, with the crowd beginning to file in, it's looking like way more orange than crimson.

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AP College Football website: collegefootball.ap.org