Heading into its game against No. 3 Ohio State, second-ranked Clemson’s message from head coach Dabo Swinney was don’t let a brand beat you, and don’t beat yourselves.
The Tigers took that message to heart in their 31-0 bashing of the Buckeyes in the Fiesta Bowl, and they’ll try to do the same against No. 1 Alabama in the national championship game on Jan. 9.
“Obviously the system that coach Swinney’s had going around here has worked,” center Jay Guillermo said after the game. “It works, so you don’t need to change it up for anyone. Every game is a championship game, so we just prepare like that.”
Since Swinney took over as Clemson’s head coach in 2008, his team has beaten powerhouse programs such as Auburn, Georgia, LSU, Ohio State, Oklahoma, LSU and Notre Dame.
Clemson, now among the elite of college football’s elite, is past the point of being daunted by big, bad bullies with nationally renowned brands like Ohio State and Alabama.
Many pundits expected Clemson to be pushed around by Alabama when the two teams played last January in the title game. Alabama had won national championships in three of the previous six seasons, while it was Clemson’s first appearance in a national title game in 34 years.
Though the Tigers lost by five points, they showed they weren’t afraid to line up with the Crimson Tide, especially in the trenches.
Alabama’s imposing defense, which finished the season No. 3 in total defense, first in sacks and fifth in tackles for loss, allowed 40 points and 550 yards while mustering just two sacks against a Clemson offensive line that was up to the challenge.
“Some teams, you watch them on film and it’s obvious they’re defeated already. You can see it in their body language on the field, in the way they get after it,” Guillermo said. “That’s something that we take pride in is go out and play our game, and kind of take everything as if we play Clemson every week. If we focus on ourselves, then we’ll be successful.”
Alabama’s defense, anchored by senior defensive end Jonathan Allen and senior linebacker Reuben Foster, come into the contest No. 1 in scoring defense (11.4 points per game), No. 1 in rushing defense (62 yards per game), No. 1 in total defense (244 yards per game), No. 1 in opponent first downs (13.3 per game), No. 2 in sacks (50), No. 5 in tackles for loss (112) and No. 8 in turnovers forced (27).
It will be a stiff test for Clemson’s attack, but Alabama won’t beat Clemson by intimidation.
Clemson sees a defense on the level of Alabama’s every day in practice, and they hear some of the same stuff they will hear, too.
“They start talking junk. Christian (Wilkins) and Ben (Boulware) and all those guys,” Guillermo said, smiling. “But you know. It’s good on good. Iron sharpens iron.”
Clemson knows it belongs on the championship stage, and instead of fearing the opposition, the Tigers are focused on themselves and what they can control.
They’ve achieved every team goal to this point. With one game left, they’re simply focusing on what they can control and trying to win the closer this year.
“To have a shot at redemption, a shot to play the best in college football right now is so satisfying,” Guillermo said. “I believe the two best college football teams are in the championship game, and that’s the beauty of the college football playoff is it kind of weeds out the people that shouldn’t be in there.
“I’m just excited for it.”