FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — When Clemson touched down in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Saturday, it was treated like royalty. There was a water salute, which is normally done for dignitaries or retired pilots, as well as a welcoming party on the tarmac.

The Tigers, the No. 1 team in the country, knew it was not in the Russell Athletic Bowl, like a year ago, but instead in the Capital One Orange Bowl and the College Football Playoffs.

“You don’t usually have a welcome like this,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said when comparing the Orange Bowl to other bowl experiences. “I’m not sure anyone was there when we pulled up last year (at the Russell Athletic Bowl). I don’t know, this is a little different.”

Clemson, who will play No. 4 Oklahoma on New Year’s Eve, were greeted by the entire Orange Bowl committee and their families. The Sooners had a similar welcome earlier in the day.

The whole experience, though, let the Tigers know this isn’t just another bowl game.

“We have ourselves in position to play for a national title. It is pretty special,” defensive end Kevin Dodd said. “We are riding first class and the Orange Bowl is going to take care of us so we appreciate every part of it.”

The plane ride was not a normal one for Clemson either. The Tigers waited for about an hour back in Greenville as the plane had mechanical issues. It was event that added to the players’ excitement.

“Just being in the playoffs, we were just ready for that plane to land,” left guard Eric Mac Lain said. “It was the longest plane ride of my life.”

This time last year, Clemson was getting ready to play the Sooners in the Russell Athletic Bowl, and then a few days later Swinney was watching Florida State play in the inaugural College Football Playoff. He said he sat there and thought to himself, “We are going to be there next year.”

“The guys were excited because they know we are in the Final Four,” Swinney said. “We started the year with hopes to achieve this. To get on the plane today and to know it is finally here, it is finally game week. We have been preparing. We had great preparations prior to taking a little break for Christmas and got refocused today. But to get on a plane and actually get here, you feel like time is ticking quickly.”