Now that final exams have been completed, recruiting is in a dead period for coaches and Deshaun Watson is back from the awards circuit, No. 2 Clemson can finally begin its preparations for No. 3 Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Eve in Glendale, Arizona.
This is a game where everyone will look at the quarterbacks. Of course the Tigers have Heisman Trophy Finalist Deshaun Watson, while the Buckeyes’ have J.T. Barrett. But this game really isn’t about the quarterbacks. Instead, it is more about Clemson’s explosive offense against Ohio State’s dominant defense.
The winner of this matchup will more than likely win the game.
As we all know, Clemson is really good on offense. Led by Watson’s 4,440 total yards and 43 touchdown responsibilities, the Tigers rank 15th nationally in scoring offense (40.2), No. 13 in total offense (505.7) and No. 7 passing (332.7) as well as No. 6 in third down conversions (51.5).
Clemson (12-1) has weapons everywhere. Jordan Leggett is one of the best tight ends in the country, while Mike Williams is considered by some to be the No. 1 wide receiver in next April’s NFL Draft. There is also running back Wayne Gallman, who is averaging 5.1 yards per carry and has 15 touchdowns, as well as wide receiver Deon Cain and his nine touchdown receptions and 19.4 yards per catch.
The impressive thing about the offensive numbers the Tigers put up is who they put them up against. Clemson faced four defenses that finished the regular season inside the top 20 nationally in terms of total yards and seven that finished in the top 50. The four teams that ranked in the top 20 were No. 8 Boston College, No. 11 Louisville, No. 19 Virginia Tech and No. 20 Auburn.
In all, the Tigers faced nine teams that finished inside the top 50 in scoring defense, led by Auburn’s No. 5 ranking and Wake Forest’s No. 20 ranking.
As for the Buckeyes’ defense, statistically they will be the best unit Clemson has faced this season. Ohio State ranks No. 3 in scoring defense (14.2), No. 4 in total defense (281.6), No. 6 in passing defense (164.5), No. 10 in third down defense (30.7) and No. 14 in rushing defense (117.1).
The Buckeyes (11-1) are led by linebacker Raekwon McMillan’s 87 tackles and Jerome Baker’s 79. Baker also has 8.5 tackles for loss, while defensive end Tyquan Lewis is their best pass rusher with 10 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks.
In the secondary is where Ohio State really excels. Safety Malik Hooker has six interceptions to lead a unit that has 19 overall. He has returned three of his six for touchdowns, while the defense has seven pick 6s overall. Cornerback Marshon Lattimore has four interceptions, including one for a touchdown.
However, the Buckeyes’ defense has not been challenged as much as Clemson’s offense has, from a statistical standpoint that is. The two most challenging offense Ohio State faced came in non-conference play against Tulsa and Oklahoma.
The Sooners, who Ohio State beat in Norman, Oklahoma, 45-24, rank No. 3 nationally in both scoring and total offense. The week before, the Buckeyes took down Tulsa, 48-3. Tulsa ended the year with the No. 6 offense in terms of yards and the No. 11 offense in terms of points.
As for Big Ten opponents, Michigan was the No. 12 scoring offense in the country, but the Wolverines ranked just No. 46 in total yards, one of just three top 50 offenses the Buckeyes have faced this year. In fact, Michigan is the only Big Ten opponent Ohio State played ranked in the top 50 in terms of total yards.
Penn State ranked No. 25 in scoring offense, but it was the only Big Ten opponent other than Michigan ranked in the top 50.