The Tigers out-coached and out-played the Buckeyes in the College Football Playoff semifinal. There was a clear discrepancy in talent and scheme all over the field. That won't be the case next week, as Clemson advances to face No. 1 Alabama in the title game in Tampa. Here are a few of my final thoughts on the win.
1) Early in the week, I had a feeling. It just crept up on me. That feeling was that Clemson was going to roll. I texted my good friend TJ Saturday afternoon to inform him of this because I had to tell someone. I didn't want to jinx it or look like a homer in my prediction post. I felt like Clemson was coming into the game hot. Ohio State struggled all year against top-tier teams (Michigan, Wisconsin, Penn State). Clemson's defense was equivalent, statistically, to Wisconsin and Michigan, who held the Buckeyes to 23 and 17 points in regulation, respectively, and neither allowed an offensive touchdown until late in the third quarter. The Tigers offense was by far the most explosive Ohio State had played, but I noted that both teams would end up making plays, thus it would be a draw picking the better unit.
I didn't see a shutout coming, but I told him my thought was 41-13 - a 28-point win. Final difference: 31 points.
2) In my blogs, I noted that Deshaun Watson was the best player on the field. You didn't need to read that to know it, if you've watched any Clemson game the last three years. But it's worth noting every time the Tigers step on the field. Clemson has an advantage simply because of No. 4. He's 31-3 as a starter. One loss came at Georgia Tech when he left the game with a knee injury in the first quarter and did not return. Clemson was leading at the time he exited. Another was to Alabama in the championship game last year when he put up 478 yards and 40 points against the Tide. The third was to Pittsburgh this year, another game Watson was outstanding with 580 passing yards and leading the offense to 42 points. You can't count out Clemson with him under center.
3) Clelin Ferrell was never once mentioned in any pregame banter about the teams. When experts broke down Clemson's defensive front, names like Christian Wilkins, Carlos Watkins and Dexter Lawrence were uttered over and over again. But Ferrell, a redshirt freshman, was a force to be reckoned with. He recorded three tackles for loss, a sack, and earned Fiesta Bowl Defensive MVP honors.
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| The Tigers blanked the Buckeyes and now face Alabama once again. (Photo courtesy Clemson Athletics) |
4) The biggest defensive stat, in my opinion, was third down defense. Clemson was one of the best in the nation in that category and proved it again Saturday. Ohio State was 3-for-14 on third downs.
5) Wayne Gallman pounded out 85 yards on 18 carries with a score to lead a Tiger rushing attack that gained over 200 yards. Watson had 57 yards and two rushing TDs. Ohio State was 13th in the country allowing just 117 yards on the ground per game.
6) The play of the game to me was CJ Fuller's 30-yard touchdown catch on the wheel route. Fuller caught a similar touchdown in the Tigers' win over South Carolina. It looked like he had a step on the defender and Watson's pass was slightly under-thrown. That allowed the defender to catch up. No pass interference was called, but it was clear the Buckeye grabbed onto Fuller, knocking his arm down prior to the catch. His concentration and physical ability to keep his arm up, catch the ball and hang on while diving into the end zone was a thing of beauty.
7) Clemson football and its fanbase has been the brunt of the longest running joke in college football. You know the word. It doesn't need repeating. So, we're sorry if we're not sorry for basking in this moment, the moment of shutting out Ohio State on the second biggest stage in the game. The moment of giving Urban Meyer his worst loss and first shutout of his career. The moment of shutting up all the haters who still look at us as "little, ole Clemson," as Dabo likes to say. The moment of out-classing another college football blueblood. The moment you realized "Clemson is coming" wasn't just a catch-phrase. Clemson is "here."
8) I am always proud to be a Clemson Tiger, but these last two years have made walking around with a paw on my chest and that "C" on my ring all the better. Clemson fans, we are in rare air right now. Our Tigers are playing for the national championship for the second straight season, something that's never happened for the orange and white. This program has won 10 or more games six consecutive years, has defeated the likes of Auburn, Florida State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Georgia and LSU, has taken back to Clemson an Orange Bowl trophy and a Fiesta Bowl trophy in back-to-back years, has seen a two-time Heisman finalist after never having anyone head to New York. Dabo Swinney has earned the right to be considered one of the top coaches in America right now and it's time people take notice.
9) Oh, they'll take notice on Monday, January 9. The entire 2016 season comes down to one game. A rematch for the ages. Perennial powerhouse, bad to the bone Bama against a band of brothers with one goal left to accomplish. ESPN did a nice piece on teams/fans across the country and their "We want Bama" signs. Folks, there's only one team that "wants" Bama. And there's only one team that can take down the mighty Tide. That team gets its chance to make college football history in Tampa.
10) Beat Alabama.
-BtW
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