PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz. — Second-ranked Clemson returned to the Valley of the Sun on Monday evening as it begins the second phase of its preparations for the 2017 Fiesta Bowl and No. 3 Ohio State.

The Tigers (12-1) chartered two planes to carry all of its players, coaches, office personnel, trainers and managers as they touched down in Phoenix sometime just before 5 p.m. mountain time.

This is the second time in the 2016 calendar year Clemson has journeyed to the Phoenix area to play a football game. Of course the Tigers’ 2015 season came to a close with a loss to Alabama in the national championship game on Jan. 11.

Now they are back for a second straight trip to the College Football Playoff where Saturday’s semifinal game against Ohio State will be a 7 p.m. kick.

“We have a job to do so we are going to take care of business. We are going to prep hard and treat this like any other game,” Clemson defensive tackle Christian Wilkins said. “We know it is a big game in the eyes of everyone, but we are going to treat it like any other game and try to take care of our business.”

Clemson running back Wayne Gallman says the Ohio State game is the championship game because if they don’t win this game then there is nothing else.

“The next game is the next championship so we have to play our best,” the junior said.

Swinney says he is excited to be back in Arizona and he said he is excited to be here longer than 48 hours this time, which is about the length of time the Tigers were in the Phoenix area back in January.

“I’m excited for not only myself, but for our players to have a great opportunity to have great preparation here, but to also experience a new part of the country,” Swinney said. “We did not get to do a whole lot when we were out here but get ready to play the game, so we are really ready to go.”

Swinney said the Tigers had a good practice on Monday morning back in Clemson where everyone reported to the team on time and made the trip to Phoenix. Swinney said it was hot in Clemson this morning compared to the winter-like temperatures the state of Arizona had felt the last two days.

“It was hot back in Clemson, but it is good to be back out here and enjoying some good weather,” Swinney said. “We have had great preparation. This is game week, obviously, and we have one day under our belt. We are very appreciative of the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl folks and everyone and all the committee, the volunteers and everybody that does so much to make this a great event and a great experience for everyone involved, especially with the opportunity to practice where we get to practice. It is a great venue for us, an incredible stadium we get to play in and we are just looking forward to it.”