It goes without saying that Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson and Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield will perhaps determine the outcome of the Capital One Orange Bowl on Dec. 31 in the College Football Playoffs.
However, ESPN analyst Todd Blackledge said on Tuesday those two will only succeed if their running game can complement them.
“They don’t have to run for 150 yards or anything like that, but they have to do it well enough where they can balance things out,” said Blackledge, who will call the Orange Bowl with Brad Nessler and sideline reporter Holly Rowe from Sun Life Stadium in Miami.
That means in Blackledge’s mind whoever wins the battle up front will advance to the National Championship Game on Jan. 11.
The Sooners, despite the emergence of Mayfield at quarterback, are still known as a power running team. Oklahoma is averaging 235 yards a game on the ground and has perhaps the best backfield in college football thanks to the success of running backs Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon.
Since a loss to Texas in October, the Sooners (11-1) have put both backs on the field at the same time. It has brought great success as they have averaged 300 rushing yards per game during their current seven-game winning streak.
Perine has rushed for 1,291 yards and 15 touchdowns, while averaging 6.1 yards per carry. Mixon is averaging 6.8 yards per carry for 749 yards and seven touchdowns.
Clemson (13-0) will try to counter with a run defense that, though still very good, struggled in the later part of the season. The Tigers gave up 156.0 yards per game over the last six games, including 242 to Syracuse and 181 to South Carolina.
Clemson gave up just 105.4 yards per game in the first seven games of the season.
Clemson’s defense ranks 23rd nationally against the run, allowing 128.8 yards per game.
“(Shaq) Lawson standouts,” Blackledge said. “He is a guy that you have to account for because he is one of those guys that ruin plays.”
Lawson, consensus All-American leads the nation in tackles for loss with 22.5, while also recording 9.5 sacks. The defensive end is fourth on the team in tackles with 78.
Though Oklahoma is considered to have the better running game, Clemson (13-0) isn’t too shabby either. Running back Wayne Gallman has rushed for 1,332 yards and 10 touchdowns, while averaging 5.5 yards per carry.
Clemson, unlike the Sooners do with Mayfield, uses Watson more in the running game. Watson has rushed for 887 yards and 11 touchdowns and is averaging 5.4 yards per carry. The Tigers also give Watson and lot of run-pass options to keep a defenses off balance.
“I like the way Gallman runs,” Blackledge said.
The Tigers are averaging 222.2 yards per game on the ground.
“Clemson has improved in its running game,” said Blackledge.
Oklahoma’s run defense is about the same as it was a year ago. The Sooners held the Tigers to 68 yards on 42 carries in the 2014 Russell Athletic Bowl. This year, they rank 45th nationally, allowing just at 150 yards per game.
The Sooners are led by outside linebacker and All-American Eric Striker and defensive end Charles Tapper.
“If either defense can make the other offense one dimensional then it can make things difficult even for quarterbacks as good as Watson and Mayfield,” Blackledge said. “There has to be some effectiveness in the running game to balance the game out.”