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The undefeated and top-ranked Clemson Tigers (13-0) take on the No. 4 Oklahoma Sooners (11-1) in a College Football Playoff semifinal game at 4 p.m. Thursday in the Capital One Orange Bowl game at Sun Life Stadium in Miami.
Clemson is looking for its first national championship in more than a quarter of a century. The Tigers captured the program’s only national title back in 1981. Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops is hoping to play for a second national crown. Stoops guided the Sooners to the 2000 national title, but has since lost in three other national championship games.
The Tigers took down the Sooners 40-6 in last season’s Russell Athletic Bowl game. They meet again in the postseason, this time with the stakes much higher.
Here are five players to watch in Thursday’s game:
- Clemson QB Deshaun Watson: A finalist for the Heisman Trophy, Watson has been nothing less than spectacular in guiding the Tigers to an undefeated season so far. The consensus All-American has been effective with his legs as well as his arm. He led the Atlantic Coast Conference with 3,517 passing yards and 4,404 total yards. He rushed for 887 yards and scored 11 rushing touchdowns. He led the conference with 30 passing and 41 total touchdowns. Watson also led the conference and was second in the nation in pass completion percentage (69.5).
- Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield: The former walk-on was fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting this season. Mayfield led the Big 12 in passing (35) and total (42) touchdowns as well as pass completion percentage (68.6). Like his counterpart, Mayfield has an ability to scramble and make plays with his legs as well. He rushed for 420 yards and seven touchdowns this season in addition to his 3,389 yards passing. Both quarterbacks will present problems for the opposing defenses. How the defense is able to handle that pressure will go a long way in determining the outcome.
- Clemson RB Wayne Gallman: Overshadowed by his quarterback, Gallman has turned in an outstanding season. The ACC leader in rush attempts (242), Gallman finished third in the conference in rushing yards (1,319). Gallman rushed for 10 touchdowns and also caught a touchdown pass. He added 165 receiving yards on 19 catches. But most of the damage he’s done this season has been on the ground behind a massive offensive line.
- Oklahoma WR Sterling Shepard: The fourth-year standout is saving his best for last. Shepard rolled up 1,201 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns on 79 pass receptions this season, all career highs. Over four years the 5-foot-10, 191-pounder has caught 226 passes for 3,395 yards and 26 touchdowns. He will be Mayfield’s primary target again on Thursday and if he gets loose will pose problems all afternoon long for the Clemson secondary.
- Clemson LB B.J. Goodson: The senior is having his best season. Goodson leads the Tigers with 91 tackles. The 6-foot, 240-pounder has recorded 46 solo tackles and 14 tackles for loss, including 5.5 sacks. Goodson also has an interception to his credit this season as well as two fumble recoveries. A leader on defense, Goodson will look to disrupt the Oklahoma attack in the biggest game of his college career.
Glenn Sattell is an award-winning freelance writer for Saturday Down South.
