Ohio State vs. Clemson, Fiesta Bowl 2016: Time, live stream, TV schedule, and 6 things to know
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


A trip to the College Football Playoff Championship Game is on the line.

Ohio State became the first non-conference champion to earn a spot in the College Football Playoff, where they’ll square off with Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl on Saturday night. The Buckeyes were able to solidify their playoff spot with a dramatic victory in double overtime last month against Michigan. Ohio State rallied from a 10-point second half deficit to force overtime. The Wolverines and Buckeyes traded touchdowns in the first overtime period before a Curtis Samuel 15-yard run gave Ohio State their fifth consecutive win over their rival. The win allowed Ohio State to improve to 10-2 under Urban Meyer in games where they trailed at halftime.

The Ohio State head coach has just five losses during his five years in Columbus, with one of those losses coming to Clemson in the 2014 Orange Bowl. Ohio State held a nine-point lead in the second half against Clemson, but in the end Sammy Watkins and the Tigers were just too much for the Buckeyes to hold at bay. Watkins was named Orange Bowl MVP for his performance, as he caught 16 passes for 227 yards and two touchdowns. The Buckeyes and Tigers had met one other time prior to the 2014 Orange Bowl, with Clemson squeezing by Ohio State 17-15 in the infamous 1978 Gator Bowl, where Woody Hayes punched Clemson’s Charlie Bauman.

After losing a big chunk of last year’s starters to the NFL, Ohio State entered this year with just six returning starters, which was fewest among FBS teams. The Buckeyes got off to a hot start this year, handling a road test against Oklahoma in the third week of the season. Ohio State went through the first six games of the season unscathed before blowing a fourth quarter lead to Penn State in State College. The Buckeyes took care of business in the final five games of the season, and the College Football Playoff committee felt Ohio State’s resumé was worthy of being a part of the four-team playoff.

Much like Ohio State, Clemson survived an upset by a team from Pennsylvania but still did enough in the eyes of the committee to be a part of the third College Football Playoff. The Tigers opened the season with a road win at Auburn, and added wins over Louisville and Florida State during the regular season before thwarting Virginia Tech’s upset attempt in the ACC Championship Game. Now after making it to last year’s College Football Playoff National Championship Game and falling to Alabama, Clemson has unfinished business as they try to take home this year’s title.

How to watch, stream, and listen


TV: 7 p.m. ET, Saturday, ESPN. The announcers are Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, and Samantha Ponder

Radio: 97.1 The Fan or The Ohio State IMG Radio Network. Also available on ESPN3.

Online streaming: WatchESPN

Spread: Ohio State opened as a 3-point favorite. The line’s stayed pretty static with OSU as much as a 3.5-point favorite at a few books.

Know your enemy: SB Nation’s Shakin’ The Southland covers the Tigers.

Ohio State’s biggest advantages


Defensive mindset. It’s hard to single out a part of the Ohio State defense which has performed better than the others this year since all three levels have played exceptionally well. The defensive line has created the pressure needed to allow the linebackers and defensive backs the opportunities to make some plays and create some turnovers. Ohio State is second in the nation with seven defensive touchdowns, with three of those coming from Malik Hooker.

The Ohio State secondary faced many questions coming into this year after losing Eli Apple, Vonn Bell, and Tyvis Powell from last year’s squad. The defensive backs who were tabbed to replace the trio have exceeded all expectations this year. For his performance during the year, Hooker was named a unanimous All-American. It wasn’t just Hooker who carried the load for the Ohio State secondary this year, as Gareon Conley consistently made big plays for the Buckeyes when they were needed.

Clemson’s defensive line gets a lot of publicity for their play this year, but Ohio State’s defensive line is just as talented. After Joey Bosa won Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year the last two seasons, Tyquan Lewis followed in Bosa’s footsteps and took home the award this year. Joey’s brother Nick Bosa had a productive first season in Columbus, getting five sacks in the regular season.

Where the Buckeyes are at their best is when they are able to force their opponents into obvious passing downs and they can unleash their “Rushmen” package to create pressure in the backfield. The extra pressure allows the linebackers and defensive backs a greater chance to force a turnover, and with Deshaun Watson having thrown 15 interceptions this year, the Buckeyes will do everything they can to get the “Rushmen” package out onto the field.

Urban intelligence. Urban Meyer will be looking to improve on an impressive 10-2 record in bowl games in his head coaching career. The only time Meyer has suffered a loss at Ohio State in a bowl game came in the 2014 Orange Bowl against Dabo Swinney’s Clemson team. In fact, Meyer is 45-3 with more than a week to prepare for his opponent, but that loss to Clemson is one of the three losses Meyer has suffered during extra time.

The brighter the stage, the better the result for Meyer’s teams. In the last 10 games against Top 10 teams, Meyer has won seven of his last eight games. Overall, Meyer is 19-6 against Top 10 competition, and 8-3 while he has been at Ohio State against teams ranked in the Top 10.

The last time against Clemson, Ohio State was coming off a loss to Michigan State in the Big Ten Championship Game, and didn’t have a lot of motivation. In this meeting motivation won’t be a factor at all since both teams will be doing everything in their power to make sure they can move on to face the winner of Alabama and Washington. There will also be a little bit of a revenge on Meyer’s mind since there aren’t many coaches who can say they hold a winning record against Meyer, but Swinney is one of those coaches.

Ground warfare. When it’s clicking, Ohio State’s rushing attack is among the best in the country. The Buckeyes averaged 258 yards per game on the ground, which ranks ninth in the country. The success Ohio State has rushing the football also allows for the Buckeyes to keep the ball out of their opponents hands, with the 33:55 Ohio State averages in time of possession ranking fifth in the country.

Many thought it might be a bit of a rocky transition at running back after Ezekiel Elliott left for the NFL, but redshirt freshman Mike Weber quickly quieted any doubts. The redshirt freshman became just the third freshman running back to rush for over 1,000 yards, with the other two backs being Robert Smith and Maurice Clarett.

While Weber brings the power in the running game, h-back Curtis Samuel brings the home-run capability. This year Samuel averaged 7.7 yards per carry and he scored eight rushing touchdowns. What has been a criticism of the Ohio State offense is they don’t get the ball to Samuel enough, with the junior averaging just eight carries per game. Whether it be rushing or in the passing game, when Samuel gets the ball he makes his touches count.

Clemson’s biggest advantages


Orange crush. If Ohio State’s offensive line plays anything like they did against Michigan, it could be a long night for the Buckeyes in the desert. Clemson’s defense posted 46 sacks and 112 tackles for loss this year, with both ranking third in the country. What makes the Clemson defense tick is the pressure that their defensive line is able to create, which has forced their opponents into mistakes throughout the year.

All four of Clemson’s defensive linemen have been impressive throughout the year, with each of the four registering at least five sacks on the season. Defensive tackle Carlos Watkins leads the defense with 8.5 sacks, which were the most sacks by a Clemson defensive tackle since 1990. Watkins may be a senior, but the future is still bright at defensive tackle for the Tigers, as freshman Dexter Lawrence was named ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year after racking up seven sacks in his first year with the Tigers.

At defensive end, Christian Wilkins will grab most of the headlines after being credited with 12 tackles for loss this year and being named one of the finalists for the Nagurski Award. With all the talent Clemson has on the defensive line, Ohio State can’t sleep on the other defensive end Clelin Ferrell, who had five sacks during the season.

The pressure Clemson’s defensive line creates could leave things looking a lot like how most of the Michigan game did for Ohio State. With the Buckeyes still struggling to have some of their wide receivers step up, backfield pressure could give Ohio State fits when they try to execute the run-pass option, which has been their bread and butter all year long. The Buckeyes will not only need the veteran leadership of Pat Elflein and Billy Price on the offensive line to rub off on linemen like Isaiah Prince, since all five Ohio State linemen will have to be at the top of their game on Saturday night.

Deshaun the great. There were some who thought this was a down year for Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson this year compared to the numbers he put up last year. In terms of passing the ball, Watson’s numbers were almost the same as they were last year. Last year as a sophomore, Watson completed 67.8% of his passes for 4,104 yards, 35 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. This year Watson completed 67.6% of his passes for 3,914 yards, 37 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions.

Where critics might have perceived a fall-off from Watson is when it comes to running the football. Last year Watson ran the ball 207 times for 1,105 yards and 12 touchdowns, as opposed to the 529 yards and six touchdowns Watson gained on 129 carries this year. Clemson just didn’t ask Watson to do as much this year on the ground as he did last year, which actually could help Watson in the Fiesta Bowl and beyond since he didn’t take as much punishment this year, which could leave him fresher for later in the season.

There are plenty of similarities between Watson and Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett, with both being able to beat you on the ground, as well as through the air, with Watson having an even better arm than Barrett. All both quarterbacks do is win, with Watson posting a 26-2 record at Clemson over the past two seasons. Watson will be the most versatile quarterback Ohio State has had to prepare for all year, and his ability to do just about everything for the Tigers on offense will be a tough challenge for one of the nation’s best defenses.

Pitch and catch. Ohio State has to be happy that they don’t have to try and cover Sammy Watkins like they did in the 2014 Orange Bowl, but that doesn’t mean that Clemson doesn’t have a talented group of receivers that could give Ohio State fits. Mike Williams came back from a neck injury he suffered early last year to haul in 84 passes for 1,171 yards, and 10 touchdowns. The junior wide receiver made some highlight reel catches throughout the season, and it’ll likely take the efforts of the whole secondary to slow down Williams.

The Buckeyes can’t just focus all their resources on Williams though, because Watson has a number of other options he is comfortable with getting the football to. For the second year in a row, tight end Jordan Leggett was a finalist for the Mackey Award, given annually to the country’s best tight end. Leggett nearly matched his output from last year despite playing sparingly early in the year due to injury.

Aside from what Williams brings to the table, Deon Cain might just be Clemson’s best big-play threat, as evidenced by his team-leading 19.4 yards per catch average. Artavis Scott is one of Watson’s most trusted targets, who the quarterback always seems to find in key moments. Add in Ray-Ray McCloud and Hunter Renfrow in the passing game, and the Ohio State secondary will certainly have their hands full throughout the game as they try to keep Watson and his targets in check.

Summary


F/+ Projection: Ohio State 29, Clemson 25

Win Probability: Ohio State, 61.2%

Much like Ohio State’s most recent outing against Michigan, the Fiesta Bowl could go down as a classic. Both teams are stacked with talent on both sides of the football. You couldn’t ask for a better quarterback matchup than we’ll get with J.T. Barrett and Deshaun Watson in Glendale.

This game will probably be a back-and-forth affair that doesn’t see either team lead by more than a touchdown. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Ohio State try and get Curtis Samuel involved a little earlier in the game to see if the junior can break some big plays against a Clemson defense that holes can be found against. No matter the result, watching this game is a great way to spend the last few hours of 2016.

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Buckeyes' Trevor Thompson finding role as inside presence - BT Powerhouse (blog)
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes' Trevor Thompson finding role as inside presence
BT Powerhouse (blog)
The Ohio State Buckeyes frontcourt has been a revolving door of lackluster production and wasted opportunities in the past few years, but junior center Trevor Thompson is looking to make that an after-thought. For some teams conference play has already ...


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Ohio State commits shining in All-America events
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


A Buckeye 4-star DB is impressing in Orlando.

It’s almost time. Tomorrow night, the Ohio State Buckeyes take on the Clemson Tigers in the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl. The long awaited matchup between two of the top four teams has been brewing throughout the week as some “barking” by Clemson has given Ohio State a little extra motivation–– if that is even possible. With many players on both rosters recruited by both opposing staff’s in the past, the game tomorrow night is sure to be one of the best semifinals in the College Football Playoff’s short tenure.

But before the game takes place, there are some notes from the never ending recruiting trail.

OSU DB commit shining


It seems that nearly every single Ohio State commit in the 2017 recruiting class is playing in a post-season competition honoring the top senior football players in the country. Between the US Army All-American game played in Texas and the Under Armour All-American game played in Florida, the Buckeyes are more than well represented with 2017 recruits.

The Under Armour All-American game in Florida currently has two Ohio State 2017 commits playing in the competition. The two are none other than Isaiah Pryor and Marcus Williamson, who are also roommates at Florida’s IMG Academy.

So far, the pair have been nothing but impressive, but Pryor is the one making serious conversation as of late. The nation’s fifth best safety in the country and ninth best prospect in the entire state of Florida is turning heads and proving why he was a key piece for Urban Meyer and Ohio State’s 2017 class.

With Pryor’s 6-foot-2, 195-pound frame, he possesses the body-type that can not only defend the pass as a ball-hawk, but also has the bulk to be a serious run-stopping threat for the Silver Bullets in the near future. With Pryor’s speed and athleticism, look for him to come in and compete right away for a spot in the two-deep at safety for the Buckeye defense.

OSU among the top recruiting programs


In college football, recruiting is one of the key aspects that a program must be successful in to reach the pinnacle of the 128 FBS schools. A national championship is the ultimate goal of each team at the start of every season, but before each season starts, the players in the football program are directly the ones besides the coaches that will be the factors on whether or not a program reaches its final goals.

Fortunately for Ohio State, the Buckeyes have had nothing but success in the recruiting business ever since Urban Meyer has been at the helm of the Buckeye football program.

That same success continued this year in the 2017 class as Nike’s premier recruiting event “The Opening” dawns more than impressive host of future Ohio State players. Among Ohio State, the Alabama Crimson Tide are right at the top with the Buckeyes as the team with the most commits that were invitees to Nike’s headlining circuit. With Alabama and Ohio State, the first two winners in the College Football Playoff and back once again this year, recruiting once again cements its importance.


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Heat Check: Our Final 2017 Buckeye Recruiting Board Following a Busy Month of December - Eleven Warriors
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Heat Check: Our Final 2017 Buckeye Recruiting Board Following a Busy Month of December
Eleven Warriors
The Buckeyes added a pair of linebackers as five-star Texan Baron Browning became commitment No. 16 and four-star Pete Werner hopped on board shortly thereafter. Ohio State also got some great news when five-star defensive back Shaun Wade ...
Rob Oller column | CFP coaches linked by hatred of losingColumbus Dispatch

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College Football Playoff picks: It'll be the Buckeyes and 'Bama - Chicago Sun-Times
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College Football Playoff picks: It'll be the Buckeyes and 'Bama
Chicago Sun-Times
The Buckeyes (11-1) are favored by a field goal, which is a bit of a surprise considering they aren't the most experienced squad and Clemson (12-1) made it to the national title game last season. I love Watson, but I believe in coach Urban Meyer and ...
J.T. Barrett aims to make more good decisions for Ohio State BuckeyesWKYC-TV
Buckeyes, Let's Hold the LineThe Players Tribune
Sports bars adjust New Year's Eve for BuckeyesCanton Repository
247Sports -UPI.com
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Preview: Ohio State (11-1, 8-1 BIG) vs Clemson (12-1, 7-1 ACC) Part 5
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



The huge day is almost upon us and I am nearly complete with my preview series of the Ohio State versus Clemson matchup in the Playstation Fiesta Bowl. It was a blast getting back into the swing of things, but sadly, the College Football Season is drawing to a close. The thought of life without College Football makes me cringe, and the anticipation when awaiting the beginning of a new season will seem to drag on. Now I am certainly not chalking this contest up as a sure loss, just like the Penn State defeat, anything can happen, so I will stick to that until this next game is completed. The beauty of College Football is anyone can take down the big bad giant, at any given moment. The passion is unmatched and you could see it in each individual players eyes and in the way that they carry themselves on the field. Ohio State is already being counted out by everyone who is paid to talk about it, and I wouldn’t have it any other way than that. The Buckeyes thrive when playing the underdog role. Ohio State is favored by a mere field goal, but they are already being counted out before the game even begins. We will see what they do when the opening kickoff commences.

Defensive Backs:


Each team has strengths and advantages in certain areas. Clemson has a dominant and stout Defensive Line that loves to get to the opposing Quarterbacks. Both teams, in my opinion, are equal when comparing the Line Backing Core’s, as they are both rangy, athletic, sure-tacklers, who can play from sideline to sideline. Ohio State has an advantage at Defensive Back and their defenders have shown a knack for making clutch plays during crunch time. The Silver Bullets have 19 total interceptions for the season, 3 of which were takeaways from Line Backers, so the Scarlet Curtain accounted for 16 of the 19 interceptions for the season, and 6 of the 7 interceptions for scores for the defense. They have the ability to flip the field and score on that end as well because they have 7 pick six’s for the season. Clemson’s Defensive Backs aren’t terrible either, as a defense they have 18 total interceptions, with 2 being taken back for scores. 14 of them were due to the Defensive Backs on their roster, 4 of their interceptions were from their Line Backers and their backs took both picks to the house. I will give the Buckeyes the slight edge, due to the production of their unit and their ability to turn the tide in the ball game, but for now, I will go over each key player.

Ryan Carter, CB:


Ryan Carter is a Redshirt Junior who will be most likely be matched up against Noah Brown during this contest. Clemson tends to blitz, a lot, and that leaves their Cornerbacks on islands with opposing pass catchers. Carter is listed as being 5-9, 180 lbs and he comes from Grayson, Georgia. Carter has 28 tackles for the season, with 18 of those tackles being solo tackles. He also has one interception, one sack and he has 5.5 tackles for loss for the season so far. Carter will be charged with locking down the outside receivers. Size is always a concern, but he plays up to his competition as he has tallied 7 total pass break-ups to date. He will contend with unproven and young receivers this game, who routinely struggle to get separation from defenders. The blitzing and the constant pressure will be leaned upon to prevent big splash plays from occurring as Carter will be tasked to shut his man down.

Cordrea Tankersley, CB:


Cordrea Tankersley is one of the Senior leader’s of the Defensive Backs as he looks to finish out his career at Clemson with another shot at the Championship, and hopefully against Alabama. They have to go through the Buckeyes prior to that, and with the media counting them in the Championship Game already, why not share the same mindset. Right? Tankersley is second on the team in interceptions with 3. He has made 43 tackles and 32 of them were solo tackles. He leads his team with 10 pass break ups and he has 6 tackles for losses. He will be shadowing Curtis Samuel for the majority of the game. His leadership will be needed as that, by no means is an easy assignment. He will need to be ready for whatever the Buckeyes throw at him because in the Pitt loss, he was not playing up to his ability and the team suffered their first and only defeat of the year.

Van Smith, FS:


Van Smith is the starting Free Safety for this Clemson squad replacing T.J. Green, who now plays in the NFL for the Indianapolis Colts. He has big shoes to fill, but he has filled the void. Smith is listed as being 5-11, 195 lbs and he has grown up this past season. He leads the Defensive Backs in tackles with 87 and 59 of them were of the solo variety. He has 5 tackles for loss and 2 forced fumbles and pass break ups. He will be roaming the backfield with reckless abandon, to attempt to make plays on the inexperienced receivers that Ohio State has on their roster. Smith plays aggressively and tends to over pursue, but more often than not, he makes the play. He is rangy as he looks toward this matchup against the Buckeyes.

Jadar Johnson, SS:


Jadar Johnson is the starter at Strong Safety and he replaced Jayron Kearse after he left for the pros. Johnson is listed as 6-0, 210 lbs and he is the hammer on the defense and the other Senior on the roster. Johnson leads his team with 5 interceptions for the season and is second in tackles with 49 and 34 solo tackles. He has 1.5 tackles for loss with 7 pass break ups. He is the leader on the back end and he has a ton of confidence prior to this game as he has been talking about J.T. Barrett during media days. Although he is correct about Barrett’s lack of statistics in the throwing department, he cannot discount the fact that he is just as capable as the “better” Quarterbacks that he has faced this season. Lamar Jackson is a beast and I know this, and that is why I am not completely disagreeing with him, but to throw a Buckeye under the bus prior to the game? Think Oklahoma. But this should be a fun matchup to see how Barrett responds to the chatter. If he is able to find the time to make the correct throw, watch out.

Gareon Conley, CB:


Gareon Conley, from Massillon, Ohio was on the cusp of becoming a hated rival for the Buckeyes, but a last minute offer turned him toward the Scarlet and Gray, and the rest is history. Conley turned out to be a suitable replacement for Eli Apple after he left for the New York Giants. Conley is 6-0, 195 lbs and he is the one of the older members of this secondary being in his Junior season. Conley has 3 interceptions this season, 20 total tackles, 16 solo tackles and 8 pass break ups. He takes on the opposing offenses best receiver, which will be Mike Williams, who is a projected First Round lock in the upcoming draft. This will be one of the most anticipated matchups in this game as Williams is projected to go in the first round and Conley is floating around in the Late First Round to Second Round. With a good showing, I could see him shoot up draft boards prior to the combine, but that is assuming that he shuts down Williams during the game. Conley will looks to advance against a loaded receiving corps that can score at will.

Marshon Lattimore, CB:


Marshon Lattimore has finally beat the injuries to live up to the expectations from when he first set foot onto the campus. After lingering injuries prevented him from playing, he broke into the College Football scene after 2 years of waiting. It has been a sight to see as he is second on the team in total interceptions with 4 for the season. He brought one to the house against Tulsa to break the game wide-open for the Buckeyes. He could have had two, but a penalty erased one from existence, but he shows the playmaking ability with his speed and man to man skills, which will be needed against a loaded offense that Clemson possesses. Lattimore is also a sure tackler with 38 and 27 solo tackles. He has 9 pass break ups as he and Conley are usually placed on islands during games and they will look to shut down whoever they both face.

Damon Webb, FS:


Damon Webb, a player plucked from Michigan is the starting Free Safety at Ohio State who is replacing Vonn Bell. Webb is the smallest member of the secondary, but he plays with a lot of heart and fire. At 5-10, 195 lbs the Junior will look to shut down this talented Clemson Offense. Webb has 53 tackles for the season with 29 solo tackles and he has 2 tackles for a loss with an interception for a score and 3 pass break ups. He will be tasked with stopping the Tight End and the Slot Receivers during the game. Ward has the ability to tackle, but he often relies on big hits to dislodge the ball away from the receivers and he will need to wrap up this game. Coverage will be key as the Clemson Offense can put up points in a variety of ways. Discipline will be key in this matchup as he will face the most potent offense this season.

Malik Hooker, SS:


Malik Hooker is the star of this Ohio State Defense as he leads the team in interceptions with 6 and 3 of those went for touchdowns. Hooker, a Redshirt Sophomore will look to make plays against a dangerous offense that Clemson will attempt to unleash. Hooker will be one of the obstacles in their way, because he has shown his ability to make key, timely plays in the clutch. Hooker nearly left the Buckeyes after being unable to obtain a starting position, but family and the coaching staff made it happen and look what they have unleashed. Hooker was a three star recruit out of New Castle, Pennsylvania coming out of high school and he is one player where stars did not matter. Hooker is 6-2, 205 lbs and he is a threat on the field. He is the ball hawk of the secondary and he can do it all from sideline to sideline. Hooker has 67 tackles, 38 solo, 5 for loss, he has half a sack and 5 pass break ups. His stats aren’t gaudy in those categories, but he can hurt you in a variety of ways. He will hover around the field to make plays. Hopefully he could add to his stats at the end of the game.

Specialists:


Special Teams is important when fighting for field position. Both teams will look to unleash their respective Special Teams members when needed to flip the field and kick field goals and extra points. They, like everyone else, needs to bring their A Game and as we inch closer, their kicks and punts will play a role during this contest.

Greg Huegel, K:


Greg Huegel will be the primary kicker for the contest. Huegel is a Redshirt Sophomore who stands at 5-11, 195 lbs. He will be the primary kickoff man as well. He has 86 kickoffs for the season and 36 of them were touchbacks. He has kicked 17 field goals this season, making 13 of them for a 76.5% field goal success rate. For extra points, Huegel is 62 of 64 for a 96.9% success rate. This will be key in this game as every point matters and is of great importance.

Andy Teasdall, P:


Andy Teasdall is a Redshirt Senior who is looking to cap off his Clemson career on top of the College Football mountain, but he will need two wins to do it. The first battle to the top will be against Ohio State and he will be asked to pin the Ohio State Offense deep within their territory to unleash the hounds. Teasdall has 48 total punts for 1808 yards and he is averaging 37.67 yards per punt and 150.7 yards per game. Teasdall will try to pin J.T. Barrett deep the entire game to give his defense a chance to make plays.

Tyler Durbin, K:




Tyler Durbin, a former walk-on, earned his starting gig after Sean Nuernberger was injured. He has been quite the asset, but his most recent performance against Michigan before coming up clutch to force overtime was a much needed confidence booster for him. For the season Durbin is 17 for 19 with his two misses and last make coming in the overtime thriller in Columbus. Durbin hit 89.5% of his field goals and 63 out of 65 of his extra point attempts, which sits at 96.9%. Durbin is also in charge of kickoffs and out of 92 kickoffs this season, 35 of them were touchbacks for a total of 38.04%. He like the Clemson kicker, will be used to score whenever called upon to extend the lead or earn points to pull a little closer. Coach Meyer has been alongside him whenever he practices kicking field goals and he will need ice in his veins to keep up with this Clemson Offense.

Cameron Johnston, P:


Camerson Johnston is a Senior Punter from Australia who is also looking to cap off his Buckeye career on top of the College Football mountain, but Clemson will be a tough task with the Athletes that they have at every position. Ohio State has the same quality and quantity of athletes, but it makes it very hard to choose who would win. Johnston will be looked at to flip the field on Special Teams with his patented rugby style kick. He has been effective when utilized for punts. He has punted the ball 49 times for 2266 yards and he is averaging 46.24 per punt and 188.8 yards per game which is absurd. He has one rushing attempt, that if properly blocked, would’ve been enough for a fourth down conversion, but it was not meant to be. He will be needed to give the Buckeyes a chance on defense.






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Sports bars adjust New Year's Eve for Buckeyes - Canton Repository
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Sports bars adjust New Year's Eve for Buckeyes
Canton Repository
3-ranked Buckeyes battle the No. 2 Clemson Tigers at 7 p.m. Saturday in the Fiesta Bowl, which is being played at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. And locally, crowds of Buckeye fanatics are expected to pack sports pubs and ...

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Meyer using doubters to motivate Buckeyes? - 247Sports
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Meyer using doubters to motivate Buckeyes?
247Sports
For example, while preparing for the 2006 national championship against Ohio State when he was Florida's coach, Meyer had one of his staff members compile a video cutup of several media figures predicting the Buckeyes would blow out the Gators.

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Updates on Marvin Wilson, Markquese Bell and Xavier McKinney from Under Armour game, Billy Davis' challenge and ... - Landof10.com
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Updates on Marvin Wilson, Markquese Bell and Xavier McKinney from Under Armour game, Billy Davis' challenge and ...
Landof10.com
On Wednesday, SEC Country LSU recruiting analyst Sam Spiegelman spoke with Wilson about his trip to Ohio State, which happened to be the weekend the Buckeyes hosted Michigan in late November. “I actually took that with a lot of guys I know,” Wilson ...
Marvin Wilson, a five-star DT and top Ohio State target, includes Buckeyes in top fivecleveland.com
2017 5-star DT puts Ohio State in his top 5Land-Grant Holy Land

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2014 Orange Bowl forced Ohio State to change its entire defense - 247Sports
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2014 Orange Bowl forced Ohio State to change its entire defense
247Sports
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Chris Worley didn't play that day, but he sure remembers the feeling. It was Jan. 4, 2014 at the Orange Bowl. The Buckeyes were less than a month removed from a loss to Michigan State that ended their undefeated season and a ...

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Tigers and Buckeyes babies gear up for Fiesta Bowl - WSPA.com
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Tigers and Buckeyes babies gear up for Fiesta Bowl
WSPA.com
The Tigers and Buckeyes will play in the game in Glendale, Arizona on Saturday starting at 7:00 p.m. The winner will face the victor of the Alabama vs. Washington game to be played earlier in the day in Atlanta. The National Championship game is ...

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Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer has preparation for bowl games down to an artform
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Meyer will be looking for two more bowl wins this year to push his record in bowl games to 12-2.

“He’s done it, he’s been successful, and I think everybody in the organization gains confidence from that, knowing that the leader knows exactly what he wants to do.”

- Ohio State co-defensive coordinator Greg Schiano on Urban Meyer via Adam Rittenberg, ESPN


There aren’t many coaches out there who can match what Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer does in bowl games. In fact, the only coach who has a better winning percentage in bowl games is Utah coach Kyle Whittingham, who took over the Utes after Meyer went to Florida. With three national titles already to his credit, Meyer knows just the right buttons to push to get his players to peak at just the right time during bowl season. While Meyer has an idea each year on how he wants to ready his teams for the bowl games, he knows that each team isn’t exactly the same, so he adapts his bowl preparation plans to best fit each of his teams.

There is a delicate balance of preparation from a coaching standpoint, but also making sure players are properly conditioned for the bowl game. To help with that, Meyer has leaned on strength and conditioning coach Mickey Marotti since 2005. The two have worked together for so long, and had so much success, that at this point they are almost on the same wavelength. The two coaches were thrown for a bit of a loop when the College Football Playoff was introduced a few years ago, but they adapted quickly, with their planning leading Ohio State to the playoff title in the first year. With bowl games coming during the holiday season, it could be easy for a team to get distracted, but Meyer’s attention to detail allows for his teams to stay focused. Now Meyer will try and channel the magic again as Ohio State looks to take down Clemson on Saturday night.

“They told us yesterday that we’ve had over 750 Clemson snaps or something like that from the scout team. We’ve been going hard.”

- Ohio State defensive end Sam Hubbard via Austin Ward, ESPN


As evidence by being a Heisman Trophy finalist two years in a row, Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson is not easy to get a read on. Ahead of Saturday night’s Fiesta Bowl, Ohio State is pulling out all the stops to get their defense prepared to try and slow down the versatile quarterback. Not only has Ohio State had freshman quarterback Dwayne Haskins trying to mimic Watson’s strong arm, but also safety Eric Glover-Williams has also played the role of Watson on the scout team to try and replicate the quarterback’s scrambling ability.

After spending nearly a month getting ready for what Watson might bring to the table in Glendale, the Ohio State defense is ready to see the real thing after logging so many snaps against the scout team. The Buckeyes even brought in a former NFL wide receiver Brian Hartline to try and test the defensive backs. The preparations for Watson could have some effects that stretch further than the Fiesta Bowl. With Haskins taking on the role of Watson, the Buckeyes are hoping it might help the growth of the quarterback since they see some of Watson in Haskins. Right now the Fiesta Bowl is the main priority though, and Ohio State’s defense will certainly be prepared for everything Watson has to throw at them.

“We’re going to be aggressive as hell. We’re not going to give anything easy. We’re going to suffocate offenses in everything that we do, which means at time you’re hanging yourself out.”

- Ohio State co-defensive coordinator Luke Fickell via Ralph D. Russo, Associated Press


Over the last couple years Ohio State has had quite a dominant defense, but had it not been for the loss to Clemson in the 2014 Orange Bowl, the defense might not look like it does today. The loss to Clemson was the last straw for Urban Meyer, who had seen his defense give up at least 30 points in four of the last five games of the 2013 season. After the season, Meyer told co-defensive coordinator Luke Fickell to blow up the defense and start over.

Ohio State started their defensive makeover by hiring Chris Ash from Arkansas to join Fickell as co-defensive coordinator. The reason Ash was targeted by Meyer and Fickell was because Ash used press quarters at Wisconsin and Arkansas, and the Buckeyes were looking to implement press quarters because of the success Michigan State had with then-defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi using press quarters. Meyer and Fickell were interested in using press quarters because they were just toasted by Sammy Watkins and the Tigers in the Orange Bowl by quick passes and screens. Now after the defensive overhaul, Ohio State is looking to win their second College Football Playoff title in three years, but to do so they’ll first have to take down the team that made them change their defensive philosophy.

“Clemson is the reason. They’re good. I’m not ashamed to say it. A lot of what we do around here, we studied them.”

Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer on Clemson’s content creation via Pete Thamel, Sports Illustrated


Not only will Ohio State and Clemson square off on the field on Saturday night, but they also are squaring off online. Recently Athlon named Ohio State’s Twitter feed as the best in the country, which was a title that Clemson held last year. The Buckeyes know the Tigers are one of the best groups in the country when it comes to online content, which is why over the past two years Ohio State has tried to hire two people from Clemson’s creative team.

These days schools are looking for every possible advantage they can get when it comes to recruiting, which is why direct of player personnel Mark Pantoni leads a daily meeting where the staff comes up with ideas on content they can send to recruits. Since Meyer took over in Columbus, Ohio State has focused more on creative content, adding an estimated $100,000 to their budget. What keeps the creative team working so hard is Meyer’s desire to be best, and if his creative team isn’t the best, they find out what they can do to beat the competition. While the battle between Ohio State and Clemson’s creative teams won’t have any impact of what happens on the field on Saturday night, fans of both schools will definitely be ready for kickoff with the outstanding content both schools prov

STICK TO SPORTS

• Columbus was named the sixth-best city in the country for beer.
• The Buckeye Bourbon House will open up in downtown Columbus in February.
• After over two decades with ABC 6/Fox 28, Yolanda Harris announced last night’s newscast was her last.
• LeBron James ate raw garlic after losing a bet to his 12-year-old son.

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Im on chapter 6. This game is awesome.

A) No one would ever admit "actually we get smoked about 80-90% of the time, but we try to build on those really rare victories."

B) The young guys on this team have loads of talent, particularly at the skill positions (frankly, Dwayne can be a much better passer than JT and Victor, McCall, Mack do not take a back seat to the starters in terms of receiving potential).

C) This defense is really good. It's not suffocating, however, it's just really solid with terrific athleticism and ball skills to capitalize on mistakes.

J.T. Barrett aims to make more good decisions for Ohio State Buckeyes - WKYC-TV
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


J.T. Barrett aims to make more good decisions for Ohio State Buckeyes
WKYC-TV
Samuel proved to be the Buckeyes' most prolific playmaker, as he turned 91 carries into 704 yards and eight touchdowns, and a team-leading 65 catches into 822 yards and seven scores. Samuel had more than twice as many receptions as the next leading ...
Buckeyes, Let's Hold the LineThe Players Tribune
Ohio State football | Jack Looks Back: Buckeyes' first clash with Clemson was last game for WoodyColumbus Dispatch
Fiesta Bowl Preview: Clemson Tigers, Ohio State Buckeyes in familiar prelude to greatnessUPI.com
ESPN -Landof10.com
all 599 news articles »

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Ohio State Buckeyes: Composure separates Clemson QB Deshaun Watson - WKYC-TV
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State Buckeyes: Composure separates Clemson QB Deshaun Watson
WKYC-TV
The Ohio State Buckeyes have defended against a wide range of quarterbacks throughout the 2016 season, but they will get a test like no other when they take on the Clemson Tigers in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium in ...
Buckeyes downplay Watson's interceptions; Watson and JT are friendsCleveland 19 News

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How Ohio State can stop Deshaun Watson
Ian Hartitz via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Spoiler: it’s going to be tough.

How Ohio State can limit Watson


Ohio State doesn’t change the principles of their defense based on the opponent. This is what happens when your entire defense is stockpiled with some of the most talented players in the country.

While much has been made of Ohio State’s cover-four scheme, Marshon Lattimore and Gareon Conley are talented enough that the defense has run an abundance of straight up man-to-man coverage. The secondary’s coverage ability, combined with the pass-rushing prowess and athleticism from the front seven, has allowed Ohio State to stifle scrambling quarterbacks all season.

Man coverage with a QB spy


Against Baker Mayfield and the Oklahoma Sooners, Ohio State got basic and played cover-one spy during a huge moment early in the game:


Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield has the ability to make plays outside of the pocket, so the defense needed to protect against a possible quarterback run. In the above play, Ohio State shows blitz at the line before the snap, but it's really just designed to confuse the quarterback and offensive line. The Buckeyes are only rushing their three down linemen and almost everyone else is playing man coverage.

Free safety Damon Webb (#7), bails at the snap to cover the middle of the field. He is just playing a deep zone and is looking for work. Strong safety Malik Hooker (#24) rolled into the box before the snap and is in man coverage with the tight end. They'll often switch responsibilities which makes it difficult for quarterbacks to know who is playing which role. The Buckeyes' three cornerbacks are all in man coverage.

Raekwon McMillan (#5) and Chris Worley (#35), the two outside linebackers on this play, are responsible for covering the running back. Since the running back went to McMillan's side of the field, he covered him while Worley stayed home to spy Mayfield and look for work. Regardless of what goes on around him, middle linebacker Jerome Baker (#17) spies the quarterback to prevent any running lanes or scramble attempts.

At the snap, all three of Ohio State's cornerbacks and Hooker turn and run with their receivers. Mayfield appeared to be fooled by the blitz and didn't set the protection correctly, as Jalyn Holmes (#11) was gifted a free path to the quarterback. From there, Baker made a great play by finding the tipped pass and managed to take the interception all the way to the house.

The Buckeyes' defense gets complex when it needs to. Third-and-longs will sometimes result in well-timed blitzes, but Ohio State has often been able to get pressure on the quarterback without bringing pressure. In these instances, they've been more than happy to simply let their cornerbacks matchup with the opposition and hope that their players are better than the opposition.

The Rushmen package


If Ohio State is struggling to get pressure on Watson, they could move to their rushmen package sooner rather than later. Last season, Ohio State's defensive line was the strong point of the defense, as they had an abundance of NFL talent that excelled at getting to the quarterback. When opponents were forced into obvious passing downs, they began toying with a "rushmen" package that took their nose guard off the field for a defensive end. Joey Bosa was so good at playing inside or outside that they were able to put three defensive ends plus Adolphus Washington on the field at the same time. It was a nightmare for quarterbacks and offensive lines alike.

This season's version of the rushmen package involves two substitutions since the defense doesn't have an interior pass rusher on Washington's level. Nick Bosa (#97) and Holmes play plenty of snaps in non-passing situations as well, but the Buckeyes will bring them in as defensive tackles to join starting defensive ends Sam Hubbard (#6) and Tyquan Lewis (#59) to really get after the quarterback.


In the above play, Ohio State had forced Wisconsin into a fourth and goal with four yards separating the offense from the end zone. The defense subbed in Bosa and Holmes to play defensive tackle and proceeded to unleash the four pass rushers. The linebackers, safeties and corners play the same Cover 1 spy principal that we discussed before, except there are only two linebackers instead of three. The only difference is that there is now one quarterback spy instead of two, so the focus is more on pressure and less on defending against a run or broken play.

With great coverage across the board, the Wisconsin offensive line is overwhelmed by the pass rush and speed of the interior defenders. Most of the Buckeyes' pass rushers are hard to handle without a double team, so putting them all on the field at once makes it very difficult to protect the quarterback, while also allowing the defense to drop seven guys back in coverage. Holmes eventually makes it to the quarterback and seals the game.

The bottom line


Both Clemson and Ohio State will have a few surprises in store for each other, but at the end of the day both teams got to this point by playing their style of football. Clemson is going to try to spread Ohio State out on defense and let their best player attack them in a variety of ways. The Buckeyes are going to bet that their corners and defensive linemen are better than the Tigers’ receivers and offensive linemen.

Football is a team sport, but in a matchup with two very-even teams, the game could come down to individuals making big plays in big moments. Can the Ohio State defensive line contain Watson and force him to make quick decisions? Can Lattimore and Conley hold up in man coverage down the field and slow down Williams? I for one cannot wait to find out this Saturday.

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Buckeyes don't want to over-prepare for Watson - BuckeyeGrove.com (subscription)
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes don't want to over-prepare for Watson
BuckeyeGrove.com (subscription)
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson has been on the radar of Ohio State fans ever since the five-star product out of Gainesville (Ga.) picked up his first offer. The Buckeyes made a recruiting run at Watson but could never get the ...
Ohio State Buckeyes: Composure separates Clemson QB Deshaun WatsonWKYC-TV
Buckeyes downplay Watson's interceptions; Watson and JT are friendsCleveland 19 News

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Here’s how to watch wrestling’s Midlands Championships live
BTN.com staff via Big Ten Network

Use BTN2Go and BTN2Go.com to watch live cameras from every mat of the Midlands Championships right up to the final round, which air live live on BTN TV.

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Countdown to 2017: Top 10 storylines of 2016 Big Ten season
Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer via Big Ten Network

We're one day closer to 2017, and today BTN.com senior writer Tom Dienhart is counting down the 10 best storylines, in no particular order, of the 2016 Big Ten football season.

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The Orange Bowl and Alamo Bowl tops the next set of college football bowl game best bets, odds
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


We inch closer to the playoff as the first off the New Year’s Six bowl games kicks off.

Bowl season ATS: 7-16-1 (5-13-1 National, 2-3 B1G)

Season ATS: 92-103-5 (45-51-2 National, 47-52-3 B1G)

Bowl season has been a complete bust for MC&J so far this year. Tuesday and Wednesday really put a hurtin’ on this year’s bowl record, with just a 1-7 record against the spread in those eight games. Hopefully as the importance of the bowl games rises, MC&J’s picks can get better.

Birmingham Bowl: South Florida (-10) v. South Carolina - 12/29 2:00 PM EST - ESPN

South Florida has already set a school record for most wins in a season, which is a major reason why Willie Taggart drew the attention of Oregon for their vacant head coaching position. The Bulls hit the jackpot with Taggart’s replacement, hiring Charlie Strong. But it isn’t quite time for Strong to take the reins of the Bulls just yet, as interim head coach T.J. Weist will lead South Florida against South Carolina in Birmingham.

Quarterback Quinton Flowers could kickstart a 2017 Heisman campaign with a strong performance against the Gamecocks. This year Flowers was one of just three quarterbacks with 2,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing. Between Flowers, who had 1,425 yards rushing, and Marlon Mack, who added 1,137 yards on the ground, the Bulls have quite a potent rushing attack.

South Carolina has been carried by their defense this year, and because of that I think they’ll be able to stay inside the number here. To say South Florida’s offense has been awful this year might be an understatement. While I’m not very impressed with what the Gamecocks offer up on offense, South Florida’s defense can make pretty much anyone look good it seems.

South Florida 31, South Carolina 27

Belk Bowl: Arkansas v. No. 22 Virginia Tech (-7) - 12/29 5:30 PM EST - ESPN

Justin Fuente’s first season in Blacksburg couldn’t have gone much better. A win against Arkansas will give the Hokies their first 10-win season since 2011. Quarterback Jerod Evans is a big reason for that success, throwing for 27 touchdowns and adding another 10 rushing touchdowns. With 20 points, Virginia Tech will break the school record for points scored in a season that was set in 2010.

Arkansas will be looking for their third straight bowl win under Bret Bielema. The Razorbacks will need another big performance out of Rawleigh Williams III, who ran for 1,326 yards and 12 touchdowns this year. What hurt Arkansas this year was they couldn’t get any consistency, as they alternated wins and losses for much of the season.

Another problem for Bielema’s teams at Arkansas is they haven’t found much success against ranked teams. The Razorbacks are 7-18 against ranked foes under Bielema, but this is first non-SEC ranked team they’ve played. I was impressed with how the Hokies stuck with Clemson in the ACC Championship Game, and I think they close out the year strong with a double-digit win in Charlotte.

Virginia Tech 38, Arkansas 24

Alamo Bowl: No. 12 Oklahoma State v. No. 10 Colorado (-3) - 12/29 9:00 PM EST - ESPN

Not only is this a matchup of former conference foes, but it also is one of the most intriguing non-New Year’s Six bowl games. Colorado is playing in their first bowl game since 2007, but they’ll have to do so without the architect of a defense that was one of the best in the country. Defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt left the Buffaloes to take the same position at Oregon earlier this month.

While Colorado got some bad news leading up to the bowl game, Oklahoma State just got some good news. Quarterback Mason Rudolph announced he is returning to Stillwater next year, which could see the Cowboys sitting in a lofty position in the polls prior to the season. Rudolph was the only quarterback in the country to pass for more than 3,500 yards and throw less than five interceptions.

I love what head coach Mike MacIntyre has done in Boulder, but I think the loss of Leavitt will hurt Colorado in this game. Where the Buffaloes have been strong is in forcing turnovers, which is something that Rudolph just doesn’t do that much. This should be a fun game, but in the end I feel better about taking the points.

Oklahoma State 33, Colorado 30

Liberty Bowl: Georgia (-1) v. TCU - 12/30 12:00 PM EST - ESPN

This is certainly a bowl game and it is in Memphis, but other than that there isn’t a whole lot to say about this game. At least fans will get to watch Georgia running back Nick Chubb, who is nearing 1,000 yards this season. Kirby Smart has had an up-and-down first season in Athens, but things started to go Georgia’s way later in the year, with the Bulldogs winning three of their last four games.

TCU is a tough team to get a read on, and a lot of that can be attributed to the inconsistency of quarterback Kenny Hill. The Texas A&M transfer threw 13 interceptions this year, so Georgia’s defense could feast on a few turnovers. I’m not terribly impressed by either team, but if I had to choose I’d take Georgia just because I can trust their defense a little more.

Georgia 27, TCU 21

Sun Bowl: No. 18 Stanford (-3) v. North Carolina - 12/30 2:00 PM EST - CBS

Sun Bowl? More like the Shun Bowl if you are a starting running back for either of these teams. Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey and North Carolina running back Elijah Hood are both sitting this one out, with the difference being McCaffrey is doing so to prepare for the NFL, while Hood is returning to Chapel Hill next yesar.

At least scouts can still get a look at North Carolina quarterback Mitch Trubisky, who threw for 3,468 yards and 28 touchdowns this year. Wide receiver Ryan Switzer was Trubisky favorite target this season, hauling in 91 catches for over 1,000 yards.

Stanford closed the season with five straight wins, with the spark being provided when Keller Chryst was inserted as the starting quarterback. Chryst threw for seven touchdowns and no interceptions in the last four games. I still can’t trust Stanford without McCaffrey. Even though North Carolina doesn’t have Hood, I still think they’ll be able to move the ball and make the Cardinal play catchup.

North Carolina 28, Stanford 24

Music City Bowl: Nebraska v. No. 21 Tennessee (-6.5) - 12/30 3:30 PM EST - ESPN

Is Nebraska even going to have anybody left by the time kickoff rolls around. The Cornhuskers likely won’t have quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr., and it was already known that wide receiver Jordan Westerkamp and defensive back Nate Gerry wouldn’t be playing against the Volunteers. Ryker Fyfe started when Nebraska played Maryland, but the backup quarterback didn’t have anyone like Tennessee defensive end Derek Barnett chasing him around.

On the other side, Tennessee definitely doesn’t have to worry about the quarterback position. Joshua Dobbs threw for 26 touchdowns and added nine rushing touchdowns, pretty much doing everything on offense for Tennessee this year. The Volunteers were riding a three-game winning streak before ending the regular season on a sour note with a loss to Vanderbilt.

If Nebraska wasn’t dealing with so many injuries I probably would be all-in on them giving Tennessee a close game. Knowing what I know now, it’s hard to see the Cornhuskers keeping up. This one could get ugly for Nebraska.

Tennessee 41, Nebraska 21

Arizona Bowl: South Alabama v. Air Force (-14) - 12/30 5:30 PM EST - ASN

What is ASN? Do I even have ASN? Isn’t Will McAvoy an anchor on ASN? Will Sloan Sabbith be on commentary? And now I’ve lost anybody reading this who didn’t watch The Newsroom.

Are you really going to bet against a team that has a player named Weston Steelhammer? I didn’t think so. Air Force runs all over South Alabama. I think we’ve spent enough time on a game that none of us will end up watching a second of.

Air Force 35, South Alabama 17

Orange Bowl: No. 6 Michigan (-7) v. No. 11 Florida State - 12/30 8:00 PM EST - ESPN

Finally we have gotten to the first of the New Year’s Six bowls. The Wolverines were obviously hoping to be playing in the College Football Playoff and if a certain spot wasn’t so good, Jim Harbaugh’s team just might be. Instead Michigan will have to set their bitter disappointment aside and take on Florida State. Remember when Will Ferrell played nine different positions during MLB spring training? Maybe Jabrill Peppers can do something like that an play every position on both sides of the ball for Michigan in this game.

If I was Peppers I surely wouldn’t want to try and tackle Florida State running back Dalvin Cook. Not many have been to successful at bringing down Cook this year, who has rushed for 1,620 and 18 touchdowns for the Seminoles. Cook will have to be on top of his game to crack a Michigan defense that might just be the best in the country.

Florida State struggled early in the season on defense, which dashed their College Football Playoff hopes a lot sooner than many were expecting. The Seminoles have tightened things up of late though, which is why I think they’ll be able to stay in this game. Defensive end DeMarcus Walker, who has 15 sacks on the year, could give the Michigan offensive line fits. I think Cook puts forward a strong performance in his hometown before announcing he is heading to the NFL and somehow the Seminoles hand Michigan their third loss in four games.

Florida State 24, Michigan 21

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How Ohio State can KO Clemson - ESPN
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


How Ohio State can KO Clemson
ESPN
How Ohio State can KO Clemson · Ohio State Buckeyes. 1mSteve Muench and Kevin Weidl. Ranking non-playoff teams' chances of making 2017 field · Denver Broncos. 51mBill Barnwell. Karl's latest jabs anger Lillard's coach, agent · Portland Trail Blazers.


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Buckeyes had perfect decoy as Clemson QB - Toledo Blade
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes had perfect decoy as Clemson QB
Toledo Blade
The Buckeyes aimed to mimic Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson using two players. Third-string quarterback Dwayne Haskins simulated Watson's throwing; Glover-Williams entered to give the Buckeyes' defense a taste of a scrambling quarterback.


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BM5: Buckeyes to take over U.S. Army Bowl again - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


BM5: Buckeyes to take over U.S. Army Bowl again
247Sports
Yes, next week is U.S. Army All-American Bowl Week, culminating with the annual game on Jan. 7 at the AlamoDome in San Antonio, Texas. Once again, the week has a distinct Buckeye feel. Nine Buckeyes commitments and two 5-star prospects we all ...


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4-star WR Joshua Moore includes Ohio State in top schools
Bret Favachio via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Buckeyes are in a battle for the Texas native.

Moore reveals top schools


When it comes to Ohio State's 2018 class, the Buckeyes are off to a very good start as they've already secured two commitments from two exceptional out-of-state prospects — '18 quarterback Emory Jones and '18 running back Brian Snead.

On Wednesday, the Scarlet and Gray found out that their chances for another non-Ohioan got a bit better. '18 wide receiver Joshua Moore, the 60th overall player in the class, from Yoakum (TX) announced via Twitter that he narrowed his list of 50 offers down to just 14. Of the 14 programs that were included, Ohio State was one of them.


As for the Buckeyes competition for the 6-foot, 168-pounder, they will have to fight off Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas and Texas A&M in this battle.

Ohio State initially jumped into the picture for Moore in September of this year when they delivered an offer to the Lone Star State standout. The Buckeyes have yet to host Moore on a visit to campus, so plenty of credit should go to the coaching staff for keeping the interest high. With that being said, former Buckeye offensive coordinator Tom Herman, who is now the head coach at Texas, is currently projected to be the beneficiary in this recruitment. On the 247Sports Crystal Ball for Moore, the Longhorns have received 73 percent of Moore's predictions.

Pryor, Wilson shine at UA practice


Day 1 of the Under Armour All-American practice was held on Wednesday in Orlando, Fla. and '17 safety Isaiah Pryor, an Ohio State pledge, from IMG Academy (FL) wasted no time making a good impression on those in attendance. According to Adam Gorney of Rivals.com, the four-star prospect looked "strong" on defense.

It was more of the same with '17 defensive tackle Marvin Wilson of Episcopal (TX), who announced, on Tuesday, a top five list that included the Buckeyes. Wilson, the No. 3 player in this year’s recruiting cycle, was listed by the aforementioned Gorney of Rivals as the most impressive player of the day.

Gorney raved about the showing of Wilson, a major Ohio State target, and even stated that the 6-foot-4, 329-pounder was "absolutely dominating." On Sunday, you will be able to see with your own eyes, these two talents in action. It will be interesting to see how they and many other Buckeye commits/targets fare throughout the week.

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