Shutouts are rare. Shutouts of blueblood programs are even more rare. Shutouts of those programs in a playoff semifinal are legendary.

The Clemson defense pitched one on the biggest of stages on Saturday. In front of a national television audience, at the scene of its most disappointing loss of the calendar year, against a program revered across the country, Brent Venables saw his unit put together a performance for the ages. The second-ranked Tigers scored 31 points against third-ranked Ohio State, but it was the number of points they allowed—zero—that made the game especially memorable.

The catalyst for Clemson’s defense was defensive end Clelin Ferrell. The redshirt freshman dominated early in the game, taking any potential blockers to task. He only had four tackles, but three of them went for a loss, and one of those was a sack.

The pressure Ferrell applied to the backfield gave Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett fits from the opening whistle. His first tackle dropped Barrett for a six-yard loss on third-and-one on the Buckeyes’ second possession. Ferrell also helped corral Ohio State’s top skill player, Curtis Samuel. He dropped the wideout for an eight-yard loss on the following series.

Ferrell’s only sack came in the third quarter, after the Tigers had already built a 17-0 lead. His sack cost Barrett 12 more yards and forced a punt that led to another Clemson scoring drive. Additionally, Ferrell’s looming presence allowed other players to make plays with favorable matchups.

Venables used Ferrell in a variety of ways during the game to confuse the Buckeyes. His most common role was as a traditional end, but at times, the Tigers’ defense featured Ferrell as a rushing outside linebacker, or even as an underneath coverage piece on a couple of occasions.

Clemson’s shutout for the world to see would not have been possible without players like Ferrell setting the tone. The offense would not have been able to overcome two early turnovers and settle into the game if the defense were not getting stop after stop.

Certainly, a defensive player deserves this honor, and Ferrell seems a worthy recipient.

Photo Credit: Rob Schumacher/The Arizona Republic via USA TODAY Sports