The day is here. After such a sour taste at the end of the Fiesta Bowl for Ohio State in 2019, redemption is on the doorstep, and it comes in the way of a rematch with Clemson in the Sugar Bowl Friday night.
Not many folks are giving the Buckeyes a shot in this one, and in fact, most oddsmakers have OSU as a touchdown dog or more. It’s just another shot across the bow of a program that many don’t believe has what it takes to take down the Tigers in a shot to move on to the national championship.
But, there are plenty of things to point to that says Ohio State has more than a puncher’s chance in this one. Yeah, Clemson has been on the mountaintop a couple of times over the last few years, but the Buckeyes are one of the few teams in the country that have the talent to match up with Dabo Swinney and company.
We believe in OSU so much that we’re giving you five reasons why the Buckeyes will pull this thing out in the Big Easy on New Year’s night.
NEXT … In the trenches
Ohio State should be able to win the point of attack
Clemson defensive tackle Tyler Davis on Ohio State's offensive line: “They've got one of the top offensive lines in the country. Everybody on their offensive line is great. It's going to be very important to go in and set the tone.” pic.twitter.com/TGHJ04oDhp
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) December 28, 2020
If you listen to the national narrative, there’s no way Ohio State can hang with Clemson because the brand of football is just different “down south.” Yes, there are still those that don’t do homework and sprew out stereotypes that simply don’t apply to a Buckeye program that sends more players to the NFL than almost any other.
But, there is a part of this game that Ohio State has a perceived advantage that almost everyone would agree with, and that’s in the trenches on both sides of the ball. The OSU offensive line is one of the best in the country, and when all together and healthy, it can be a dominating and difference-making force. The defensive line continues to get better and can roll multiple players in and out of the rotation with aggression.
The Buckeyes have an advantage on both lines, and seeing how most games are won there, Ohio State might be able to control this game.
NEXT … Skill at wide receiver
Ohio State’s wideouts will be the best Clemson has played
Garrett Wilson called Chris Olave the best wide receiver in the country. He said Olave really opens things up for him and the rest of the receivers.
— Bucknuts (@Bucknuts247) December 28, 2020
There aren’t too many wide receiver groups in the country that are as talented and deep as what’s coming off the bus for Ohio State. With Chris Olave back in the fold from COVID-19 protocols, the group is back and all in the positions they are all comfortable with (barring any surprise availability concerns).
Justin Fields struggled against Northwestern because of two receivers in the rotation being out, but when this group is together and on the same page, Fields is one of the most dynamic difference makers in the college game. The OSU skill position players should be able to wiggle free for some big plays down the field and over the middle.
NEXT … Making Clemson one-dimensional
Ohio State has the ability to put the lid on the running game
Clemson running back Travis Etienne on Ohio State's defense: “They're structured to stop the run, so that's a challenge within itself.” pic.twitter.com/lM25nBETFj
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) December 29, 2020
If you want to try and slow down a dynamic offense like the one Clemson is going to roll out on the field Friday, you want to be able to stop one aspect of the balance. For Ohio State, it’ll do its best to take away the running game, and there’s good reason to believe it’ll have success.
The Buckeyes are the sixth-best team in the country when it comes to allowing yards on the ground, and the scheme is one in which guys go down-hill and commit to plugging holes and making life difficult to open up running lanes.
The Tigers’ wide-receiving corps isn’t as explosive as last season, or even over the last few years, so taking the running game away can pay huge dividends.
NEXT … Ohio State’s running game
Ohio State has the ability to control this game on the ground
Ohio State and Clemson meet today (8pm ET; ESPN) in a CFB Playoff semifinal at the Superdome.
Trey Sermon gained a school and FBS conference championship game-record 331 yards during a 22-10 win over Northwestern in the Big Ten title game on Saturday. #CFBPlayoff pic.twitter.com/MWknVj1FD1
— UNB! Sports Stats (@unbsstats) January 1, 2021
The Buckeyes are a balanced squad, and you can bet that Fields and his talented wide-receivers are going to try and get things cooking with balance through the air, but you can bet the running game will be big in this one too for Ohio State.
We saw how dominant this offensive line and Trey Sermon (and Teague if healthy) can be when there’s an emphasis put on blowing guys off the ball and changing the line of scrimmage.
Now, doing it against Northwestern is one thing, getting it going against Clemson is another. Still, OSU has the makeup and physicality to control this game if it wants with the ground and pound and keep Trevor Lawrence off the field.
NEXT … Motivation
Ohio State has been waiting for this moment
Ohio State's Shaun Wade seeks redemption after playoff heartache https://t.co/yMxcJxZrpZ pic.twitter.com/ZpjY26EhNZ
— New York Post (@nypost) December 30, 2020
Talent usually rises to the top all things being equal. Despite what others are saying in the media, the Buckeyes have equal talent as Clemson. This thing is a coin-flip when it comes to the skill differential.
So then, that leaves things up to scheme, breaks on the field, and turnovers, and other intangibles. In this case, one of those huge unmeasurable things is the motivation the Buckeyes have on their side. Some will say you don’t need any extra impetus in a game like this, but there are some things that provide a perfect storm that can’t be self-generated.
Ohio State walked off the field last year in the Fiesta Bowl with the worst of tastes in its mouth, pining for another shot at redemption. It’s funny how things panned out to get to this very point in the College Football Playoff, against Clemson nonetheless. That has to matter and it’s one of those wild-card emotions that could push things over the top for the Buckeyes.
Game on.
Ohio State vs. Clemson College Football Playoff semifinal preview and prediction
