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LGHL Ohio State vs. Clemson 2016 final score, with 3 things to know from OSU’s 31-0 loss

Ohio State vs. Clemson 2016 final score, with 3 things to know from OSU’s 31-0 loss
Ian Cuevas
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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The Tigers were too much for the Buckeyes in the College Football Playoff.

To get to the College Football Playoff, Ohio State had to pull off a double overtime win against arch rival Michigan after losing to Penn State weeks before the game. After some tough goings against lesser opponents the Buckeyes bounced back just in time and found themselves face to face with Deshaun Watson and the second-ranked Clemson Tigers. Alabama awaited the winner between Ohio State and the Tigers, after taking care of business against Washington in the Peach Bowl semifinal. In somewhat of a “rebuilding” year, the Buckeyes proved they continued to reload despite losing so many starters to the NFL, but ran into a talented Tigers team to which they fell 31-0.

Ohio State and J.T. Barrett would start the game with the ball, after Clemson deferred on the coin toss. Curtis Samuel would be involved right from the start, with two quick receptions. A dropped pass by a wide open Mike Weber would lead to the Buckeyes going three and out on the first drive. Deshaun Watson and the Tigers would start deep in their own territory but on the second play of the drive, Watson would throw in Gareon Conley’s direction, who would step up and make a big interception.

The Buckeyes started the next drive on Clemson’s 33-yard line thanks to Conley’s pick. On second down Barrett would find Terry McLaurin for a short gain but the next play, the Tigers got to Barrett behind the line of scrimmage setting up fourth and long. Tyler Durbin would come in for a 47-yard field goal attempt, which sailed right, keeping the game scoreless. On Clemson’s next drive, Deshaun Watson would find Mike Williams for a big play over the middle on third down to push the Tigers into Ohio State territory. After an Ohio State stop, Clemson would knock in a 45-yard field goal to take an early 3-0 lead over the Buckeyes.

A long kick return by Parris Campbell would again set up Ohio State in Clemson territory. A nice Barrett run would set up third down and would then find Curtis Samuel for a first down. Three plays later, the Buckeyes would have to set up a field goal. Durbin would again miss, this time missing on the left side of the uprights. The Tigers would take advantage on the following drive, throwing all over Ohio State’s secondary into the redzone with plenty of passes thrown Mike Williams way. On third and short, Hunter Renfrow would come close to the goal line, setting up a Deshaun Watson run for a touchdown, upping the Tigers lead to 10-0.

Looking for some momentum offensively, J.T. Barrett would find Binjimin Victor over the middle for a 21-yard reception. A couple of plays later, the Buckeyes would punt and Clemson would start its own drive deep in its territory. The Tigers would find it tough to run the ball against Ohio State and Raekwon McMillan would meet Watson head on for a third down stop. A booming Clemson punt would give Barrett and the offense tough field position on their next drive.

After a handful of plays and an unfortunate drop from Curtis Samuel, Ohio State would once again have to punt. Artavis Scott would field the punt and Clemson took over on offense. A designed quarterback run from Watson moved the chains on second and short. Wayne Gallman would add another first down with a tough reception and run dragging defenders with him. Malik Hooker would come up with some heroics once again as Watson fired a bomb to the right side of the field, while Hooker got his hands on the football for the interception.

Mike Weber would get his first carry in the middle of the second quarter, followed by a Curtis Samuel reception, who was able to convert the first down. Noah Brown would get a catch of his own on the next play. A couple plays later, Cameron Johnston once again would punt the ball away, pinning Clemson inside its own 20-yard line. Deshaun Watson would come out running right away with a 33-yard burst, dodging defenders every which way. A couple plays later, C.J. Fuller would stretch out for an excellent diving catch for a Clemson touchdown, putting the Tigers up to a comfortable 17-0 lead near the end of the first half.

Clemson, holding a nice lead to start the second half, would start with the ball. Facing an early third down, the Tigers would be held off on a deep throw and forced to punt. A nice pass to Noah Brown from J.T. Barrett would be followed up by a carry from Weber who would proceed to fumble the ball after a solid run, setting up Clemson with great field position. A few plays later and the Tigers were knocking on the door of the endzone. Jerome Baker would come up with a big tackle on the goal line to set up third and goal. On fourth and goal, Clemson’s field goal would shank to the left and the score stayed at 17-0.

On the next Ohio State possession, a quick three and out would result in another punt. The Tigers wouldn’t take long to reach Buckeyes territory but after a stop, J.T. Barrett would have another chance to get things going. Facing a third and 13, Barrett would get sacked back near his own endzone and another punt would ensue. On Clemson’s next drive, Deshaun Watson would add to the lead, sprinting through the defense into the endzone for a 24-0 lead late in the third quarter.

Two pass interference calls would help move the chains several times on Ohio State’s next possession, but a poorly thrown ball from J.T. Barrett would be intercepted at the goal line by Clemson’s defense. To start the fourth quarter, Wayne Gallman would gash the Buckeyes defense for a first down on third and 19. Eventually the Buckeyes would get the ball back and Curtis Samuel would make an electrifying 64-yard run, finally breaking free. But a couple of plays later the Buckeyes would face fourth down and forever and essentially toss a Hail Mary that was intercepted and returned nearly all the way.

After the interception return, Wayne Gallman would add to his terrific night with a touchdown of his own to put Clemson up 31-0 with about nine minutes left in the fourth quarter. Ohio State would have another possession and a chance to push for a score, but a fourth and short run by Mike Weber would be stopped short of the first down for a turnover on downs. The Buckeyes would not get another chance to have the ball.

Here are three things we learned from Ohio State's 31-0 loss.

3 things we learned:


1. The offense goes as the offensive line goes. With all of the ups and downs that Ohio State’s offensive line has faced all season and the true lack of depth, the last thing the Buckeyes needed early in the game was for an injury to occur. That’s exactly what happened as left guard Michael Jordan suffered an injury forcing Demetrius Knox into starting action. And the struggles across the line showed as the Buckeyes offense only managed 88 yards of total offense in the first half. J.T. Barrett was 12-of-19 passing with 80 of those yards, but it was a quiet showing for the run game, with no rusher with more than five yards. Mike Weber only carried the ball once while Samuel was a near non-factor for much of the first half. It didn’t get better in the second half, either as the pressure got to Barrett more times than not.

Going against a defensive line and especially a pass rush as lethal as Clemson’s was no doubt one of the toughest challenges the offensive line has faced up to this point, and much like the in the Michigan game, it showed in the play. Though the Buckeyes finished strong against the Wolverines, they had their struggles for three of the four quarters (and overtimes) in that game.

2. Ohio State’s defense came up clutch, but wasn’t enough. There really wasn’t much else the Ohio State defense could do in the first half. The secondary, especially, came up in a big way forcing two interceptions. One, early on from Gareon Conley, only resulted in a missed field goal. Malik Hooker’s interception later in the second quarter didn’t result in any points either. The Tigers had plenty of issues when trying to run the ball and though Clemson scored 17 points in the first half, it’s hard to blame the defense, facing such a potent offensive attack. Deshaun Watson had his moments, including a first half touchdown coming late in the second quarter, and a 33-yard rush before that.

Raekwon McMillan and the rest of the defense did what was mostly asked of them, and though it’s likely they weren’t happy with the end result, it’s not as if they didn’t provide Ohio State’s offense chances to score, especially in great field position. The second half was another strong showing for the defense but Clemson was just too much to shut down completely.

3. Clemson will face Alabama in the College Football Playoff national championship, and that’s okay. At the end of the day, it’s easy to look at Ohio State and understand why they struggled so much against a really good Clemson team. After all, this is essentially the same team that went to the national championship and narrowly lost to Alabama. Deshaun Watson is a true Heisman Trophy finalist (and could have won the award had it not been for the brilliance of Lamar Jackson) and showed his skills throughout much of the evening. When Tyler Durbin missed two early field goals, it sort of showed the writing on the wall for the Buckeyes, and after not scoring the rest of the first half, they built themselves quite the hole.

Ohio State’s offensive line didn’t play well and the play calling wasn’t going to be able to do much to change that. In a supposed rebuilding year, this was still quite the impressive run for the Buckeyes and it should be thought of as much despite the loss. J.T. Barrett will no likely be disappointed with the loss, but should he come back next season, he should have a more experienced team built around him that should be ready to make another run to the College Football Playoff.

The Buckeyes still had a very good season, finishing 11-2, and though they didn’t finish as the Big Ten champions, they did beat Michigan (because the spot was good).

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Google Buckeyes blanked - Youngstown Vindicator

Buckeyes blanked - Youngstown Vindicator
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Buckeyes blanked
Youngstown Vindicator
The junior and Heisman Trophy runner-up passed for 259 yards and ran for 57 against the Buckeyes (11-2), who could not keep Clemson's big and quick defensive line out of their backfield. Freshman Clelin Ferrell had a sack among his three tackles for ...

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LGHL Ohio State’s Malik Hooker shows off Ed Reed range intercepting Clemson’s Deshaun Watson

Ohio State’s Malik Hooker shows off Ed Reed range intercepting Clemson’s Deshaun Watson
Luke Zimmermann
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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What unbelievable range.

Ohio State co-defensive coordinator Greg Schiano can’t stop praising Malik Hooker. When you see the kind of range exhibited by the super redshirt sophomore, it’s not exactly hard to understand why.

With Ohio State needing a stop in the worst of ways (and Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson getting a little greedy), Hooker covered an absurd amount of ground en route to the Buckeyes’ second interception of the night.

The problem for the Buckeyes continue to be both finishing on drives if not merely moving the ball at all. If OSU’s offense can answer the bell, Urban Meyer’s group will be well positioned to turn this into a potential contest.

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Google This is it! Buckeyes battle Clemson Tigers in the Fiesta Bowl: score updates - fox8.com

This is it! Buckeyes battle Clemson Tigers in the Fiesta Bowl: score updates - fox8.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


This is it! Buckeyes battle Clemson Tigers in the Fiesta Bowl: score updates
fox8.com
C.J. Fuller has caught a 30-yard touchdown pass to put Clemson up 17-0 at the Fiesta Bowl just before halftime. Fuller ran past Ohio State cornerback C.J. Saunders to get open, but had to adjust when Deshaun Watson's pass was slightly underthrown.
Sam Hubbard: Ohio State Buckeyes need to be 'nine strong'WKYC-TV
Fiesta Bowl | First quarter: Buckeyes scoreless after two missed field goals 10-0Columbus Dispatch
WATCH: Ohio State HC Urban Meyer hugs players as Buckeyes arrive for Fiesta BowlLandof10.com
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Google The Latest: Watson Throws Another Interception - ABC News

The Latest: Watson Throws Another Interception - ABC News
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The Latest: Watson Throws Another Interception
ABC News
Ohio State senior kicker Tyler Durbin has missed a 47-yard field goal. The Buckeyes had the ball at Clemson's 33-yard line after an interception, but went backward on its drive. Durbin, who made 17 of 20 field goals during the regular season, pushed ...

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Google LIVE UPDATES: Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Clemson Tigers - WKYC-TV

LIVE UPDATES: Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Clemson Tigers - WKYC-TV
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LIVE UPDATES: Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Clemson Tigers
WKYC-TV
2 seed a 3-0 lead over the third-seeded Ohio State Buckeyes with 9:16 to play in the first quarter of the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl from University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The Tigers took the lead after Ohio State kicker Tyler Durbin ...
WATCH: Ohio State HC Urban Meyer hugs players as Buckeyes arrive for Fiesta BowlLandof10.com
Arizona showdown: Tigers, Buckeyes set to battleWLTX.com
Ohio State vs. Clemson in a College Football Playoff semifinal: Buckeye Breakfast Gamedaycleveland.com
fox8.com -ABC News
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LGHL Let’s watch Ohio State’s Gareon Conley pick off Deshaun Watson’s first throw

Let’s watch Ohio State’s Gareon Conley pick off Deshaun Watson’s first throw
Matt Brown
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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The Silver Bullets strike again.

Clemson’s Deshaun Watson is one of the most dynamic, exciting and explosive quarterbacks in all of college football. But if he has one possible weakness, it’s that he occasionally can make a mistake and be forced into a turnover. If Ohio State wants to be successful against the Tigers, they’ll need to take advantage of those mistakes when they happen.

And the Buckeyes did, bright and early in this game. On Clemson’s very first pass, to be specific.

Facing 2nd and long, Watson dropped back to hit Mike Williams, only Williams slipped. Waiting right there, and in such a position he may have bene able to pick the ball off even if Williams didn’t fall, was Gareon Conley, who grabbed the interception.

After a three and out on their first drive, Ohio State is suddenly in business to draw first blood against the Tigers. Can they pull it off? Even if they can’t, the defense is off to a great start.

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Google JT Barrett gets the Buckeyes fired up with pre-game speech - CBS sports.com (blog)

JT Barrett gets the Buckeyes fired up with pre-game speech - CBS sports.com (blog)
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JT Barrett gets the Buckeyes fired up with pre-game speech
CBS sports.com (blog)
While J.T. Barrett may come across as a mild-mannered, soft-spoken guy most of the time, he's become famous for his pregame speeches. As Ohio State's leader, Urban Meyer counts on Barrett to have the players fired up when they take the field.

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Google Illini look to bounce back against Bates-Diop, Buckeyes - Bloomington Pantagraph

Illini look to bounce back against Bates-Diop, Buckeyes - Bloomington Pantagraph
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Illini look to bounce back against Bates-Diop, Buckeyes
Bloomington Pantagraph
The Buckeyes, who have not played since Dec. 22, have defeated Illinois six straight times. Ohio State is 17-5 against the Illini since coach Thad Matta took over and he has brought an enviable level of consistency to the program. Ohio State (10-3) has ...
Illinois Fighting Illini in must-win home game against Ohio State BuckeyesThe Sports Blaze

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Google Lady Buckeyes sink Indiana - The News Center

Lady Buckeyes sink Indiana - The News Center
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Lady Buckeyes sink Indiana
The News Center
Mavunga made back-to-back layups, Mitchell had a 4-point play, Mavunga added another layup and the Buckeyes had an 18-4 lead with 4:14 left in the first quarter. Mitchell made another jumper for a 24-10 lead and Ohio State (12-4, 2-0 Big 10) - up 29-14 ...
Ohio State-Indiana 2016 final score: Women's basketball handles the Hoosiers, 92-82Land-Grant Holy Land

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LGHL Ohio State-Indiana 2016 final score: Women’s basketball handles the Hoosiers, 92-82

Ohio State-Indiana 2016 final score: Women’s basketball handles the Hoosiers, 92-82
Ben Martens
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


bucks.0.jpeg

The Buckeyes improved to 2-0 in Big Ten play with a win in Bloomington.

Ohio State women’s basketball finished out 2016 on a winning note, claiming a 92-82 victory over Indiana on the road in Bloomington on Saturday afternoon. The Buckeyes, ranked No. 14 in the country, are now 2-0 in Big Ten play and 12-4 overall for the season.

Kelsey Mitchell did typical Kelsey Mitchell things for Ohio State, leading all scorers with 31 points while also contributing six rebounds and five assists. The junior guard from Cincinnati was complemented by a 14-point, 17-rebound effort from Stephanie Mavunga and double-digit scoring performances from Linnae Harper and Shayla Cooper.

The Hoosiers were paced by Amanda Cahill’s career-high 28 points, but could not overcome a rare off night from leading scorer Tyra Buss, who put up 13 points on a dismal 3-for-15 performance from the floor.

Cooper, the lone senior on Ohio State’s squad, opened the scoring for the Buckeyes with back-to-back three-pointers to begin the game. Layups from Mitchell and Mavunga followed as the scarlet and gray sprinted out to a 10-4 lead in the game’s first four minutes.

Indiana went 2-for-11 from the floor early on, including 0-for-4 by Buss, and after a transition bucket from Mavunga, Mitchell connected on a deep three from the left elbow while getting fouled. The ensuing free throw for the four-point play and another Mavunga layup on the fast break stretched the advantage for Ohio State out to 18-4.

Mitchell finished the first frame with 10 points as the Buckeyes shot 60 percent from the floor, en route to a 29-14 lead. By contrast, the Hoosiers managed just 26.3 percent shooting, including 0-for-7 from long distance, with Buss going scoreless on six shots.

The second quarter got off to a sluggish start as both sides struggled to make shots. Four minutes in, just three field goals had been made, and Ohio State led 33-16. Indiana finally broke through from behind the arc, though, getting three-pointers on consecutive possessions from Karlee McBride and Cahill, and Cahill’s subsequent transition layup forced the Buckeyes into a timeout ahead 37-24.

Ohio State committed six turnovers in the period, and Mitchell was held without a point until one second remained, but the Hoosiers had separate field goal droughts of over two minutes and over four minutes. The Buckeyes took a 48-29 lead into the locker room.

Mitchell had 12 points, five rebounds, and three assists to lead the way, while Harper and Cooper added nine points apiece and Mavunga closed in on a double-double with eight points and 12 boards. Cahill had 15 points to lead all scorers in the half, but Buss failed to score.

In the first two minutes of the third quarter, Mitchell took over, scoring nine points in rapid succession as Ohio State’s lead grew to 57-31. Buss finally got on the board with a pair of free throws and Alexis Gassion scored four straight points, sticking a pull-up 15-foot jumper and a layup on a hard take to the rim.

A 1-for-5 stretch from the Buckeyes coupled with a bucket from Jenn Anderson, a three from Cahill, and two more free throws from Buss added up to a 13-2 run and cut Indiana’s deficit to 59-44. Buss finally made her first field goal with 3:20 to go in the frame, and scored eight in the quarter, but six Hoosier turnovers prevented them from cutting much farther into the lead.

Mitchell knocked in two free throws to close out the quarter, giving her 27 points in the game, and Ohio State was on top 71-54 with ten minutes to go.

Indiana scored the first four points of the fourth quarter, cutting the lead to 71-58 and once again prompting a Buckeye timeout. Baskets from Cooper, Mavunga, and Harper out of the break as Ohio State put together a 5-for-5 streak shooting put the game out of reach for good, despite the Hoosiers last-ditch efforts.

The Buckeyes will be on the road once again next time out, traveling to Evanston to take on Northwestern on Tuesday night in the first contest of 2017. Tip-off is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET, with the game being broadcast live on Big Ten Network.

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Google CFP on KPUG: 'Bama vs. Huskies, Clemson vs. Buckeyes in semifinals - KPUG 1170

CFP on KPUG: 'Bama vs. Huskies, Clemson vs. Buckeyes in semifinals - KPUG 1170
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CFP on KPUG: 'Bama vs. Huskies, Clemson vs. Buckeyes in semifinals
KPUG 1170
Football helmets from Washington, left, and Alabama are displayed during media day for Saturday's Peach Bowl NCAA college football game in Atlanta, Thursday, Dec. 29, 2016. (AP Photo/David Goldman) Photo: Associated Press ...
It will all come down to the Tide and the BuckeyesThe Alexander City Outlook

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Google Sam Hubbard: Ohio State Buckeyes need to be 'nine strong' - WKYC-TV

Sam Hubbard: Ohio State Buckeyes need to be 'nine strong' - WKYC-TV
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Sam Hubbard: Ohio State Buckeyes need to be 'nine strong'
WKYC-TV
Fresh off of a College Football Playoff National Championship following the 2014 season, the Ohio State Buckeyes entered 2015 the prohibitive favorite to win another title because of the return of nearly every key player from the title team, but a late ...
Arizona showdown: Tigers, Buckeyes set to battleWLTX.com
Here's what will decide the winner of Ohio State vs. ClemsonESPN
Ohio State vs. Clemson in a College Football Playoff semifinal: Buckeye Breakfast Gamedaycleveland.com
Columbus Dispatch -The State
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Google Buckeyes storm back, take down Tornadoes - Daily Sentinel

Buckeyes storm back, take down Tornadoes - Daily Sentinel
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Buckeyes storm back, take down Tornadoes
Daily Sentinel
RACINE, Ohio — Unfortunately for the Tornadoes, the visiting Nelsonville-York Buckeyes withstood what seemed to be an avalanche of a start. In the second half, and ultimately as a result, the Tornadoes experienced an offensive breakdown of what seemed ...

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Google Top target Jeremy Ruckert names Top 5, Buckeyes make cut - 247Sports

Top target Jeremy Ruckert names Top 5, Buckeyes make cut - 247Sports
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Top target Jeremy Ruckert names Top 5, Buckeyes make cut
247Sports
The 6-foot-5 and 220-pound Ruckert attended Friday Night Lights at Ohio State and saw the Buckeyes play in-person this season. Ruckert is a 4-star prospect in the 247Sports Composite. He is the country's No. 77 overall 2018 prospect, country's No.

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Google Ohio State vs. Clemson in a College Football Playoff semifinal: Buckeye Breakfast Gameday -...

Ohio State vs. Clemson in a College Football Playoff semifinal: Buckeye Breakfast Gameday - cleveland.com
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Ohio State vs. Clemson in a College Football Playoff semifinal: Buckeye Breakfast Gameday
cleveland.com
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The Ohio State Buckeyes and Clemson Tigers will meet on Saturday in a College Football Playoff semifinal at the Fiesta Bowl. Here's everything you need to know before kickoff: GAME INFORMATION. Who: No. 2 Clemson Tigers (12-1) vs ...
Arizona showdown: Tigers, Buckeyes set to battleWLTX.com
Here's what will decide the winner of Ohio State vs. ClemsonESPN
Fiesta Bowl | Buckeyes face another high-stakes test in ArizonaColumbus Dispatch
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MotS&G Playstation Fiesta Bowl Preview: Ohio State (11-1, 8-1 BIG) vs Clemson (12-1, 7-1 ACC)

Playstation Fiesta Bowl Preview: Ohio State (11-1, 8-1 BIG) vs Clemson (12-1, 7-1 ACC)
Richard Tongohan
via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here



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Who: The #2 Clemson Tigers versus The #3 Ohio State Buckeyes

What: College Football Playoff Semi Final, Playstation Fiesta Bowl

Where: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

When: 7 p.m. ET on December 31, 2016


Game Day is here and with hours in between kickoff, I will ease my anxiety with doing one last article before the recap. In roughly 9 hours, the game will begin and I will take the time to talk about the matchups within the game because there are many juicy matchups between each unit for both teams. The magnifying glass will be placed on each of those units, regardless of which team wins out, in the end, this game will be used to analyze talent on both teams that are potential NFL Draft prospects if they declare either after or before the game. This game is viewed as the game to watch because the last team both of these teams met in the Orange Bowl two years ago, it was a shootout. This year looks to follow suit with a potent offense versus a stellar defense. Clemson’s Offense is lethal and Ohio State’s Defense is suffocating and this is guaranteed to impress no matter who wins and who loses.

Friends Turned Foes:

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Urban Meyer and Dabo Swinney share a bond as they both grew as coaches. Coach Meyer has the edge with multiple championships and one of them came at the expense of his current team when he coached up at Florida. Coach Swinney on the other hand built Clemson into the monster that they are currently, and he is looking for another shot to prove his worth as a coach and as a team. Coach Swinney was playful during media day as he playfully mentioned Meyer’s book, constantly mentioning excerpts when given the chance. Coach Meyer on the other hand was dialed in and seemed distant and focused on the task at hand. Clemson dished Meyer one of the 5 losses during his tenure at Ohio State. He gave Meyer his first consecutive loss streak, after Meyer and the Buckeyes fell short in the Big Ten Championship Game. Is Meyer plotting his revenge? Will he have something in store for them? The doubters, who are assuming that Clemson will move on with little to no challenge from the Buckeyes? The mental chess match between Meyer and Swinney began when the Playoff field was announced. This is one of the friends turned foes battles.

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J.T. Barrett versus Deshaun Watson will be the other friend versus foe matchup to focus your attention on. Barrett and Watson were good friends when they both served as counselors for an elite passing Camp. Their relationship has blossomed since as they shared the “see you in Arizona” pleasantries when discovering that their teams will go up against one another. This will be Watson’s pass-happy attack versus Barrett’s run heavy offense. Both Quarterbacks aren’t talking and both don’t have to with the body of work that they have created with their respective teams. Both teams will play fast and hard, both teams will be prepared for the kitchen sink at each other, both teams will ride the wave with their Quarterback. Both players are proven winners and they will look to display their value on the field.

Trench Wars:

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The battle in the trenches will be another factor in the game. Ohio State has three new starters on the Offensive Line with Junior Jamarco Jones, True Freshman Michael Jordan and Sophomore Isaiah Prince, who has been the chink in the Slobs’ armor at Right Tackle. Prince will be the crux of if Ohio State is productive on offense and Jordan will also be tested early and often. Prince will face star Defensive Lineman and former Ohio State target, Christian Wilkins and Jordan faces another beast lineman and another former target, Dexter Lawrence. Wilkins is a quick twitch lineman, who flashes the speed and burst to blow past linemen and Lawrence has the bulk and outweighs all the Slobs at 340 lbs. He will be used to take double-teams to free up his companions. He is also a bully in the interior and the leaders for the Slobs will be tested and busy the entire game. Pat Elflein and Billy Price will look to stop the bleeding attempting to keep Barrett upright and untouched. It is easier said than done with the talent on Clemson’s D-Line.

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Clemson’s has a stout Offensive Line and they are beyond beefed up as they average 310 lbs on every position with their Right Guard being the heaviest at 340 lbs. The Rushmen will face their toughest challenge of the year trying to reach Deshaun Watson in the backfield. Clemson boasts a Left Tackle and former Ohio State targer, Mitch Hyatt who has allowed one sack in his tenure at Clemson. This matchup will be another factor as the battle in the trenches looks to become another tough, but exciting matchup for both teams. The trench wars will be one of the highlights and the main attraction of the game due to Ohio State’s inability to protect the line line of scrimmage. With Prince struggling mightily, will he finally earn his star in College Football circles? Or will he fail once again? You will never know until the first couple of drives but it very intriguing and my heart hurts just thinking about what could go wrong and what could potentially happen.

Explosive Offense VS Stingy Defense:

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Ohio State has one of the best secondaries in College Football and they will be needed to stop Clemson’s explosive offense. Ohio State has playmakers at every level on the defense and Clemson does too, but players like Malik Hooker is a scoring threat with Conley and Lattimore locking down their receivers. The explosive offense will be a problem as well because Clemson, like Ohio State has playmakers on offense, who can break the game wide open for Watson. This matchup focuses on WR’s Mike Williams, Artavis Scott, Hunter Renfrow, TE Jordan Leggett and RB Wayne Gallman matching up against Gareon Conley, Marshon Lattimore, Damon Arenette, Denzel Ward, Damon Webb and Malik Hooker. This will be another exciting matchup between a suffocating defense versus and crazy good offense. If this doesn’t get you as excited and paranoid as I currently am, you might be dead. Get a pulse because this could be the matchup that could decide who advances to the big dance. Ohio State collects athlete’s and playmakers, who add a different element to the defense. Their secondary is one of the best in taking the ball away and turning it into points. The Buckeyes have 7 TD’s for points and Hooker has 3 of them. Turnover’s will be key in this contest that could go either way.

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Clemson initially opened up as a three point underdog, even as the higher seed. They feel slighted and they should because their playmakers will look to do some damage on the vaunted Ohio State Secondary who is known to shift the momentum during close games. Mike Williams is a dog and a playmaker who can also shift games in their favor. The rest of the playmakers who start and a few of their key reserves would also do the same. It is just a matter of protecting the ball and their Quarterback. It is a strength versus strength battle with both teams as they both look to advance forward. This will not be a cakewalk for either team. Ohio State’s Secondary will be one of the best that they have seen so far this season and likewise with Clemson’s Offense. Clemson will be the best offense that they have faced this season because the depth and talent at every position. This will be crazy to see both squads fighting to advance into the Championship Game. Talent versus talent for the glory.

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The Ohio State Offense will lean on Curtis Samuel and the rest of Zone 6 to produce. Zone 6 has struggled mightily to get separation during games and that is one reason why J.T. Barrett’s production has been lacking a reliable and consistent receiving threat outside of Samuel. This will be an interesting factor and the pundits are expecting Clemson to put this one out of reach early, with no one giving the Buckeyes a shot with their lack of a passing threat. It is true that he hasn’t been required to throw it downfield, but when the running is so effective, why change what works. The Clemson Defense will key in on this fact as they look to shut down Ohio State’s run game early. The production for Mike Weber and friends, and Samuel will be needed to pull this one out. One of the Zone 6 members or a couple of them need to show their talent in order to win out. Binjimen Victor, K.J. Hill, Dontre Wilson, Parris Campbell and Marcus Baugh will be needed, badly.

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On the other end, the Clemson Secondary will be leaned on to keep the Buckeyes contained. If Gallman struggles, then it’ll be a defensive battle and both teams are pretty good on offense and defense, it is just a matter of opportunity to make plays. That is all you could ask for. Both teams will look to cancel each other out and this will be the epic battle of the century. The strengths and weaknesses are obvious and well documented and it is up to every unit to produce or make play when needed to. This will be a crazy game filled with many momentum swings and it will be a good one. Everyone will be glued to their seats as we watch how the game unfolds. Are we in store for a blowout or another overtime dance with another well-coached contender. Who knows, but we will find out in a couple of hours.

Conclusion:

So to conclude, this will be a fight from beginning to end. Both teams will swing for the fences for a chance at the title. Everything will be left out on the field after this one. One team will advance and the other will face their end to a magical season. For my prediction, I have Ohio State advancing after a hard fought victory. It will come down to the wire, whether in overtime or at the ending seconds of the game. This will be a defensive struggle with both teams struggling to get things going. Barrett does it again, 31-34 Buckeyes. The a member of the Ohio State Defense will turn the tide on a turnover. I don’t know who it’ll be and Clemson will be paying attention to where Hooker is lurking, essentially avoiding him. My guess is McMillan or Baker wreak havoc and Nick Bosa has a game in the Rushmen Package. A shootout will happen. Go Bucks!!!








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Google Ohio State Buckeyes look to follow 2014 blueprint - WKYC-TV

Ohio State Buckeyes look to follow 2014 blueprint - WKYC-TV
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Ohio State Buckeyes look to follow 2014 blueprint
WKYC-TV
The 2016 Ohio State Buckeyes have a lot of similarities to the 2014 team that despite their youth, rose above plenty of obstacles to upset top-ranked Alabama and Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Marcus Mariota and the Oregon Ducks on the way to the ...
Ohio State proves it's when you lose that really matters in the CFP eraESPN
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Clemson hopes to hand Buckeyes' Meyer rare lossLa Crosse Tribune
OCRegister -Tampabay.com (blog) -Columbus Dispatch
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Google 2016 College Football Playoff betting: Odds, picks, predictions for Ohio State-Clemson,...

2016 College Football Playoff betting: Odds, picks, predictions for Ohio State-Clemson, Alabama-Washington - Landof10.com
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2016 College Football Playoff betting: Odds, picks, predictions for Ohio State-Clemson, Alabama-Washington
Landof10.com
The Buckeyes are still a 3-point favorite at a few Las Vegas sports books, including MGM and Treasure Island, but -2.5 is the consensus both in Nevada and offshore. Ohio State's move to -3 happened early — the week after the playoff field was ...
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College Football Playoff 2017 Latest Odds: Alabama Slips vs. Washington, Ohio State vs. Clemson SteadyInternational Business Times

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Google Arizona showdown: Tigers, Buckeyes set to battle - WLTX.com

Arizona showdown: Tigers, Buckeyes set to battle - WLTX.com
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Arizona showdown: Tigers, Buckeyes set to battle
WLTX.com
Swinney, who is the only coach in college football history to win a bowl game four years in a row against a coach who already has won a national title, can extend that streak to five tonight against Meyer and the Buckeyes, but the task likely won't be ...
What will decide the winner of Ohio State vs. ClemsonESPN
Ohio State vs. Clemson in a College Football Playoff semifinal: Buckeye Breakfast Gamedaycleveland.com
Fiesta Bowl | Buckeyes face another high-stakes test in ArizonaColumbus Dispatch
WKYC-TV -The State
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Google Buckeyes in the Fiesta Bowl: Three things to know - Comcast SportsNet Chicago

Buckeyes in the Fiesta Bowl: Three things to know - Comcast SportsNet Chicago
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Buckeyes in the Fiesta Bowl: Three things to know
Comcast SportsNet Chicago
The secondary is the Buckeyes' strength, though they're very good in the front seven, too. Ohio State ranks in the top five nationally in defending the pass and has 17 interceptions to its credit. Clemson, meanwhile, can get after the quarterback ...

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