PARADISE, Ariz. — Second-ranked Clemson will play No. 3 Ohio State in the 46th Fiesta Bowl as part of the College Football Playoff Semifinals at The University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. The winner will advance to CFP National Championship Game to play the winner of the Peach Bowl matchup between Alabama vs. Washington.
About Ohio State: Ohio State is making its second appearance in the College Football Playoff after winning the inaugural national championship in 2014, defeating No. 1 Alabama in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans and No. 2 Oregon in the championship at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
About Ohio State’s offense: Ohio State is averaging 42.7 points per game, tops in the Big Ten and ninth-best in the FBS. The Buckeyes have totaled 512 points through 12 games this season, the third most in school history. Running bakck Mike Weber is just the third Ohio State freshman to rush for 1,000 yards, joining Robert Smith (1990) and Maurice Clarett (2002). J.T. Barrett, who holds the Ohio State career record for touchdowns responsible for (100), is six shy of the conference record of 106 held by Purdue’s Drew Brees.
About Ohio State’s defense: Ohio State has allowed an average of just 12.3 points over the past four games. The Buckeyes lead the nation in pass efficiency defense (91.43), rank second in defensive TDs (7) and total TDs allowed (15), third in fewest points allowed (14.2) and turnover margin (+1.33) and are fourth with 19 interceptions. The Buckeyes set a school record this season with seven interceptions returned for TDs — three of those by Malik Hooker.
Records: Clemson 12-1, 7-1 ACC; Ohio State 11-1, 8-1 Big Ten
Series record: Clemson leads 2-0
First meeting: Clemson won 17-15 in the 1978 Gator Bowl
Last meeting: Clemson won 40-35 in the 2014 Orange Bowl
Streak: Clemson has won two straight games
Stat worth noting: Clemson has a 68-13 record over the last six years, the second most victories in college football. Only Alabama has more with 75. Ohio State and Florida State are tied for third with 67 apiece. Clemson has six straight seasons of at least 10 wins, and only Alabama can also say that. The Tigers have more than 10 wins in four of those six seasons. Overall, just eight schools have at least 60 wins over the last six years.
Second stat worth noting: Meyer is 45-3 in his head coaching career with more than a week to prepare for an opponent.
Third stat worth noting: Clemson’s appearance in the 2016 PlayStation Fiesta Bowl will be the fourth time in the last six years the Tigers have been to a BCS or Playoff Six Bowl. These are considered to be the “Major Bowls” of those seasons. Alabama leads the way with six appearances in those six years, while Florida State is second with five. The Tigers, Stanford and Ohio State have all been to six including the 2016 bowl games. Clemson went to the Orange Bowl three times, 2011, 2013 and 2015. The Tigers are 2-1 so far in these “major bowls”