MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Clemson secured its spot in the National Championship game with a 37-17 victory over Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl. Clemson will now head to Glendale, Ariz. to take on Alabama.

Here’s what we heard after the win:

Head coach Dabo Swinney is happy to have a group that buys in to the process.

“You know, that’s 17 in a row for us. You know, it’s the longest winning streak in the country, and we’ve played a lot of good teams in those 17 games,” he said. “I’m just so proud of our team for just their willingness to be coached, their willingness to prepare each and every week, each and every game, the mindset and the mentality that they come to work with because it’s just special. It’s uncommon.

“That’s what I tell them all the time, when you do the common things in an uncommon way, you command the attention of the world, and this team is uncommon in everything that they do. It’s just a blessing to be a part of it. They really have just an unbelievable heart.”

Quarterback Deshaun Watson helped Clemson rack up 530 yards of offense, passing for 187 yards and rushing for 143.

“It’s been amazing what we did this season. It’s what we’ve been waiting for 30 years, and now we have the opportunity, and I’m just thankful. I’m thankful for all the guys, all the coaches, all the fans, the support staff, and we’re going to Arizona,” he said.

Clemson dominated Oklahoma in the second half, not allowing the Sooners to score, after giving up 17 in the first. Offensively, the Tigers’ running game exploded en route to over 300 yards on the ground.

“I think was just more tempo and just being able to wear them down and still have more juice in that second half. We tried to come back to the quarterback run in the second half, but they made some good adjustments to stop it,” said co-offensive coordinator Tony Elliott “But I think it was just the tempo and the amount of plays we had in the first half that got them a little tired and created some more running lanes for Gallman.”

Clemson trailed by a point at halftime, but Swinney was confident with what was ahead for the second half.

“You’ve got two quarters, let’s go. We’re going to get the ball, let’s go score, which we did. Let’s go score, we are going to get on top, and we ain’t going to look back, and we’re going to take the lead in the fourth quarter, and my message to them is you know what happens when we take the lead in the fourth quarter,” Swinney said. “Since 2010 we’re 51-0. These guys finish. We know how to finish.”

Defensive end Kevin Dodd finished the game with three tackles for loss and a sack, while Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield was sacked five times. Clemson’s defense also stuffed Oklahoma’s run game by holding the Sooners to 67 total rushing yards.

“We knew he (Mayfield) hadn’t been hit as much and we knew our front seven was going to get after him and challenge him a little bit,” Dodd said. “As much as we hit him, when you hit them enough, they become inaccurate and get antsy and want to leave and escape the pocket. If he can make a good throw on the run, hats off to him, but we didn’t want him sitting in the pocket delivering throws.”