The Clemson Tigers spent much of the 2019 college football season on cruise control.
Far more talented than any other team in the ACC or on their non-conference schedule, Dabo Swinney’s team won every game from October on by at least 30 points.
They won their first four games by a total score of 169-40. Then came their only real test, a September scare at North Carolina when they escaped with a 21-20 win.
“Well, we did have one close game against North Carolina and had to battle ourselves off to find a way to win,” Swinney said.
“It’s not easy to win. There’s only three undefeated teams out there. There’s a lot of leagues. There’s no undefeated MAC or Sun Belt or Conference USA or any other league. I don’t care what league you’re in, it’s incredibly difficult to win, to win them all. And our league has got 10 bowl teams, has been very competitive.”
But while Swinney tries to talk up the ACC, the fact remains that the Tigers’ highest-ranked opponent in the final College Football Playoff rankings was Virginia at No. 24.
Even then, the Cavaliers only stayed in the poll through some exceptional generosity from the committee. They only dropped one spot, from 23rd to 24th, after losing the ACC title game, 62-17.
The Buckeyes have five wins this season over teams ranked ahead of Virginia, including Cincinnati.
None of this changes what the Tigers are as a team this season or a program overall. They will be the most talented team the Buckeyes have faced this season, according to the 247 Team Talent Composite.
Oh, and they’re also the defending national champions, so they’re very familiar with the big stage and pressures of the Playoff.
“At the end of the day, this is a new season,” Swinney said. “Both teams have earned their way here. We’ve got a track record over the last nine years that kind of speaks for itself. And I think our team, in particular, has shown up with great focus and preparation each week with great respect for every opponent and have found a way to win.”
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day was quick to downplay the idea that Clemson’s schedule may have left them unprepared for what lies ahead.
“You don’t go to Ohio State or Clemson without playing in big games,” Day said. “I don’t think the stage will be too big for either side. And our guys and certainly Clemson’s guys have played in this arena before. So I don’t think that will factor in.”
Swinney agreed, and said all that matters is what the Buckeyes and Tigers do starting now.
“It doesn’t really matter if you are ranked first, second, third, or fourth,” Swinney said. “This is the four best teams that has played throughout the season. And these games are usually just a few plays. We know that the margin for error is very small and it’s going to take 60 minutes of great football to have a chance.”
In my opinion no one is going to play OSU harder than Wisconsin nor Penn State did. So if OSU is the better team on the field then they will come out on top. I see no indication that Clemson is better than the Bucks. Seems to me OSU has the edge but this game is going to be all about who makes the least mistakes and who maintains the most momentum.
When clemson played Texas Aand M in sept the Aggies were ranked 11th at that time, everybody wants to forget that or sweep under the rug so it was against another ranked sec opponent
At this point I would like to see 5 things (1) grades up and everyone eligible (2) everyone healed up; wondering how Wyatt Davis and Shaun Wade are doing (3) no Buckeyes opt out of the game for pro preps (4) preparations are above and beyond (every game prep is the same) especially where the coaches are concerned. (5) some added experience from an old sage comes through (can you say Urban).
We will need all 4 aspects of the game…offense-defense-special teams-coaching.
“There’s no undefeated MAC or Sun Belt or Conference USA or any other league.”
Yeah, that’s, in part, because those leagues play stiff competition during their non-conference games. For example, OSU had defeated 3 teams that would go on to be their conference champions by week 4 of the season: MAC champion Miami of Ohio, AAC champion Cincinnati, and Conference USA champion Florida Atlantic.
It is one of 2 possibilities as I see it
1. Iron sharpens iron and Clemson has only sharpened itself on aluminum
Or
2. They have played scrimmages all year to keep in shape but haven’t had any grinders so no injuries and just as fresh ad week 1
Only time will tell
“At the end of the day, this is a new season,” Swinney said. “Both teams have earned their way here. We’ve got a track record over the last nine years that kind of speaks for itself. ”
Pretzel “iLLogic.”
Which is it Dabo? A new season, or a, 9 season track record?”
I know we need to discuss these things. but really, at this point I’m just going to make sure I have popcorn and beer in the house for the game. There’s a difference between should win… which we should, and will win, which is why they play the game.
As for did Clemson’s schedule prepare them? The answer is untestable. Especially since they could win by better preparation, a few breaks during the game. etc. etc. How would you ever tease out if it was their schedule preparation?
And if they lose, it could be not enough good athletes, a few breaks, poor preparation, better preparation by Ohio State, or maybe not a tough enough schedule.
We’ll just never know.
We will know however who wins the game. IN a one game series anything can happen.
Saying a league is good because of the number of bowl teams is stupid. They all play each other and someone has to get a win in each game and you add those to scheduled FCS wins gets you to six pretty quickly. Actually fewer bowl teams would say more about the strength. That means you have teams good enough to beat a lot of teams.
I doubt their schedule “prepared” them in any way for good competition. In- stead, it paved an easy road for them to follow to the CFP. We will see if callow scheduling wins the day, or home field title games, or actual football…
First made popular by the 1980s Miami Hurricanes, followed up by the Free Shoes U, it’s a time-honoured ACC ‘tradition’ /eyeroll.
When clemson played Texas Aand M in sept the Aggies were ranked 11th at that time, everybody wants to forget that or sweep under the rug so it was against another ranked sec opponent
James … What somebody was ranked in September isn’t really a great indicator of schedule strength. Syracuse was ranked in September. So was Nebraska. Neither team finished with a winning record. Texas A&M has five losses. They aren’t a top 25 team and by the looks of it, never should have been.