CFP SEMI-FINAL: #3 Ohio State 49, #2 Clemson 28 (Final)

​

 

National Rankings for Ohio State....

Scoring Offense- 8th (Down 4)
Rushing Offense- 5th (Up 2)
Passing Offense- 42nd (Down 18)
Total Offense- 6th (Same)

Scoring Defense- 24th (Up 11)
Rushing Defense- 7th (Down 1)
Passing Defense- 103rd (Up 8)
Total Defense- 34th (Up 5)

 

Natl Rankings for Clemson

Scoring Offense- 4th
Rushing Offense- 64th
Passing Offense- 7th
Total Offense- 11th

Scoring Defense- 11th
Rushing Defense- 9th
Passing Defense- 26th
Total Defense- 6th

 

Exactly where we want to be. I would have Dabo's comments about Ohio State playing on a loop at the WHAC until they leave........

Ohio State opens as 6.5-point underdogs against Clemson in the #CFBPlayoff. FREE on @Bucknuts247https://t.co/c09Z8t0m6U pic.twitter.com/ULmfM3mtvO

— Patrick Murphy (@_Pat_Murphy) December 20, 2020

 

It will never change until the playoff system isn't controlled by ESPN and the SEC.......

It is the SEC invitational at this point.....

 

We updated our story on Ohio State facing Clemson in the Sugar Bowl semifinal game in the CFB Playoff with comments from Ryan Day and Dabo Swinney https://t.co/6MgkDwApEc pic.twitter.com/3J665BUu9I

— Steve Helwagen (@SteveHelwagen) December 20, 2020

 

Key to the game will be our offensive line and defensive line. Fields will be fine if we are balanced. Having our two of our top receivers back will also help.

 

Ryan Day says Ohio State is “gonna have to play our best game of the season” against Clemson, and he doesn't believe the Buckeyes have played their best football yet. https://t.co/wt9njYZCag

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) December 20, 2020

 

Ryan Day says Justin Fields "will be fine" after injuring his thumb in the fourth quarter of Saturday's Big Ten championship game. https://t.co/cCtfHmtbXb

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) December 20, 2020

 

• Part of his opening statement: "To have a chance to be in the playoffs is a very special opportunity for our team. It's an incredible opportunity any year, but especially this year."
• "We look forward to competing against a great Ohio State team. We all know how talented they are, how well-coached they are."
• Swinney If you're going to pick the four best year in a year out, there's probably six or seven teams out there that really have a shot every year." He says he includes Ohio State, Notre Dame, Alabama and Clemson among those teams.
• "I didn't have a problem with the BCS, even though it was just two teams." He says the playoff has "taken that and made it better."
• Swinney on if he thinks the Buckeyes are a rival to Clemson: "Ohio State? Absolutely. If we're playing Ohio State, it's a playoff or a BCS bowl back in 2013 in the Orange Bowl. Any time we play Ohio State, it's probably some type of meaning." He says he respects Ryan Day and how he operates his program, and notes Ohio State is a team the Tigers compete with both on the field and in recruiting.
• He thought Clemson's "most complete game" of the season was played on Saturday against Notre Dame in the ACC championship game.
• If Swinney thinks a team has an edge if they play more or fewer games: "I think the games matter. I think the mental and physical toll of a season, there's nobody out there that would say somebody who's played 11 games versus somebody who's played six is better physically." He says "it's been a grind" both physically and mentally.
• He says the more the playoff expands, the less games matter. He worries about the regular season mattering and teams resting players. "I'm a little bit more of a traditional guy."
• Swinney says he's grateful Clemson has been able to play. "I know football brings joy to a lot of folks."

 

Ryan Day on the Big Ten changing the return-to-play protocol from 21 days to 17 days: “That's for all sports, it's not just for us.” Rule change will apply to basketball and all other Big Ten sports, not just for Ohio State in the College Football Playoff.

 

OSU is getting what it wanted – another shot at Clemson in the College Football Playoff. The Buckeyes took to social media to share their thoughts on their chance at redemption. https://t.co/0KOrYXljif

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) December 20, 2020