Don’t look now, but the Fiesta Bowl matchup between Clemson and Ohio State is just over two weeks away.
The Buckeyes and Tigers are set to meet Dec. 31 in a national semifinal with a berth in the College Football Playoff national championship game on the line. Ohio State is searching for its second national title in the last three seasons; Clemson hopes to avenge last year’s loss to Alabama in the championship game.
The game features just about anything one could possibly want in a college football contest. Urban Meyer and Dabo Swinney are two of the sport’s best coaches. There is NFL talent all over the field at virtually every position.
It has all the makings to become an instant classic. Here are three matchups that will play a big role in determining a winner between the Buckeyes and Tigers.
Ohio State’s DBs vs. Clemson’s WRs
If you’re looking for NFL talent, look no further than the battle between the Ohio State secondary and Clemson’s wide receivers. The Buckeyes have three potential first-round picks in safety Malik Hooker and cornerbacks Gareon Conley and Marshon Lattimore, while the Tigers have what many analysts feel is the No. 1 wide receiver prospect in the country: Mike Williams.
Clemson has four wide receivers with at least 400 receiving yards and its tight end, Jordan Leggett, has 637 receiving yards. The Tigers are going to spread Ohio State out and throw the ball around to various options. Williams is unquestionably the top target, but Leggett, Deion Cain, Artavis Scott, Hunter Renfrow and Ray Ray McDonald give quarterback Deshaun Watson an abundance of choices.
Buckeye cornerbacks Conley and Lattimore — both potential first-round picks — in addition to nickel Denzel Ward and safeties Hooker and Damon Webb will have their hands full. Ohio State plays press coverage on the outside and leaves its corners in one-on-one matchups with the receivers, so the winners of these individual battles will go a long way in determining who wins the game.
“It's going to be a great challenge," Conley said. "These are the best receivers we've seen so I feel like it's going to be our biggest challenge this year."
Clemson DL vs. Ohio State OL
Whether or not Ohio State can move the football will be dependent on the Buckeyes’ ability to protect quarterback J.T. Barrett. Ohio State’s passing game has been inconsistent all season and the reason for that usually starts up front.
Buckeyes starting right tackle Isaiah Prince has struggled most when Ohio State’s pass protection has broken down. According to CFB Film Room, Prince allowed 25 quarterback pressures against Michigan, Penn State and Wisconsin — arguably the three best teams the Buckeyes played this season.
Ohio State RT Isaiah Prince allowed 6 QB pressures vs Michigan. He allowed 25 combined vs MICH, PSU, WISC. Huge liability in playoffs.
— CFB Film Room (@CFBFilmRoom) November 29, 2016
On the flip side, Clemson gets after the quarterback. The Tigers rank second in the country with 46 sacks on the season.
Carlos Watkins leads the way in that statistic with a team-high 8.5 sacks on the year, but Clemson also gets pressure up front from Dexter Lawrence (7.0 sacks), Clelin Ferrell (5.0 sacks) and Christian Wilkins (3.5 sacks), as well.
“Here’s the good thing," guard Billy Price said, "as we’ve gone through the Big Ten season, every team does everything. We're still prepared for the kitchen sink and more. Teams aren’t going to create this new phenomenon blitz that we just can’t block."
Deshaun Watson vs. J.T. Barrett
There won’t be a point in this game where Watson and Barrett are on the field at the same time going one-on-one, but there’s a chance this might be the most important matchup in the Fiesta Bowl. Ohio State and Clemson each need their quarterbacks to have a big night.
Watson is an electric talent who beats you both with his arm and his legs. He has an abundance of weapons at his disposal, too, which makes him that much harder to defend.
Barrett is more precise in the way he operates. He has cut up opposing teams with his legs more so than his arm this season. He’s lost just three times as Ohio State’s starting quarterback.
This national semifinal could very well come down to which superstar quarterback plays the better game.
“Not a good player,” Meyer said of Watson, “a great player.”
