PHOENIX, Ariz. — Ohio State co-offensive coordinator Ed Warinner says the biggest similarity between his quarterback, J.T. Barrett, and Clemson’s Deshaun Watson is that both coaching staffs want the football in their hands in big-time situations.

There is good reason for that. Watson is 30-3 as a starter at Clemson. Barrett is 26-3 at Ohio State. Watson has led the Tigers to three victories this year in either overtime or when trailing in the fourth quarter. Barrett rallied the Buckeyes to an overtime win at Wisconsin and then to a thrilling come-from-behind victory over Michigan in overtime in the season-finale.

Tonight, in what is the biggest game for both teams to this point in the season, they will both have the ball in their hands when No. 2 Clemson takes on No. 3 Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl as part of the College Football Playoff Semifinals in Glendale, Arizona.

“Both of us want the ball in their hands in big-time situations, in big-time games, and both of us have won a lot of football games with those two guys at quarterback,” Warinner said.

The similarities between Watson and Barrett don’t stop there. Both are considered dual-threat quarterbacks. Both play in the same spread-offense scheme, both are mentally strong and both are the leaders of their team.

“I would imagine, because I don’t know him, that Deshaun is a tremendous leader. I can just tell by the way he talks, he has leadership qualities,” Warinner said. “We know from having video evidence he is an outstanding athlete, so I think they are what people look for in spread offenses at quarterback. A versatile, athletic, leader, who is tough and can run the ball and make plays in the passing game when they need to. He has had a great run there. J.T. has had a great run for us.

“Both teams are where we are at, at least offensively, because of the leadership and play of those two guys.”

Watson and Barrett are not just similar in their style of play and leadership, but they are also friends. The two first met two years ago at the Elite 11 Camp as counselors, and they instantly became friends. During the off-season, they will hang out from time-to-time and will text each other at least a couple of times a week.

Of course, they have not spoken to each other this week, and before that they have not discussed tonight’s Fiesta Bowl matchup between perhaps the two best and most experienced quarterbacks in this year’s playoff field.

“Yeah, it’s going to be a lot of fun just to be able to see him and to compete against one another and just have that friendly competition. He’ll probably say the same thing,” Watson said.

Barrett said he and Watson talked about a possible matchup in the College Football Playoff this past summer.

“Kind of like any top team in the country, you see yourself at the end of the year being in the playoffs and things like that. And early in the year, it was, like, hopefully I’ll see you at the end. And sure enough we’re here,” he said.

Despite all the similarities, there are a few differences between the two. Overall, Watson throws the football better and more. He has thrown for nearly 1,500 more yards and 13 more touchdowns this season.

He is also more accurate. Watson is completing 67.5 percent of his passes, while Barrett is at 61.8.

However, Watson has thrown 15 interceptions to just five for Barrett.

“I’m not really into comparing one guy to the other. It seems the more teams you play the more that have mobile quarterbacks, whether it is the designed quarterback run game, which comes out of the spread and comes out of the tempo,” Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables said. “There are other aspects that are similar to their philosophy, but I don’t really try to compare him to Deshaun. We have seen a lot of what they do, but we will see some new wrinkles we have not seen as well.”

One thing that will be seen tonight is the same passion and mindset both quarterbacks have for their teams. Neither one minds sticking their necks on the line to lead their squads to victory.

“We are competitors. We want the best for our team,” Watson said. “We do whatever the coaches ask us to do. He does a lot of great things and they win a lot of great ball games. They are at this point for a reason, and that’s because of him.

“He is able to make things happen with his feet, his arm and his mind. He is able to lead his team to some big wins”

Barrett feels the same about Watson.

“I definitely respect his game,” the Ohio State quarterback said. “I think he is passionate about playing ball. That is something that definitely shows up when he plays. He just loves playing the game and he loves being around his dudes. I have a lot of respect for that. He is out there trying to do his best each and every week and playing hard. You can see that in the way he plays.”