Rapid Reaction: Ohio State crushes Clemson in Sugar Bowl, sends loud message to Alabama
Ohio State’s theme coming into this season’s College Football Playoff semifinal was “rewrite the end.” As in, flip the script on what happened to the Buckeyes in last season’s CFP semifinal loss to Clemson.
Coach Ryan Day’s Buckeyes did just that on Friday at the Sugar Bowl.
Justin Fields gritted out a great performance despite wincing in pain from a hit late in the first half, throwing for 6 touchdowns as Ohio State dominated Clemson 49-28 in New Orleans.
The Buckeyes will face Alabama for the CFP National Championship on Jan. 11 in Miami. The Crimson Tide knocked off Notre Dame 31-14 in the other semifinal at the Rose Bowl (held in Arlington, Texas). The last time Ohio State met Alabama, the Buckeyes won 42-35 in a 2014 Playoff semifinal en route to the national championship.
Fields set a Sugar Bowl record and an Ohio State bowl record with 6 touchdown passes. Ohio State’s tight ends were involved in the passing attack more than at any time this season, catching 3 touchdown passes. More predictably, Chris Olave hauled in 2 TDs and more than 100 receiving yards.
Trey Sermon, who broke Eddie George’s school record for rushing yards in a game his last time out against Northwestern in the B1G Championship Game, picked up where he left off against the Tigers. Sermon, a graduate transfer from Oklahoma, rushed for 121 yards and a score in the first half alone. He finished with 191.
Buckeyes fans were probably sweating when Clemson, trailing 35-21 at halftime, forced a turnover then drove for a touchdown to start the third quarter. But the Buckeyes responded when Fields hit Olave deep downfield for a 56-yard touchdown pass to put a punctuation point on a 91-yard drive, the receiver’s second TD catch of the night.
Then the Buckeyes forced Clemson quarterback and Heisman Trophy finalist Trevor Lawrence to fumble in the third quarter and OSU recovered. OSU wound up punting but the exchange cost Clemson some valuable time.
A persistent pregame theme was about how Ohio State’s players who were there for the 2019 season, starting with Fields, were still stinging from the 29-23 loss to Clemson in last year’s CFP semifinal at the Fiesta Bowl. And there was a perception among some pundits — and perhaps with Clemson coach Dabo Swinney, who ranked OSU 11th in his final coaches’ poll vote — that the Buckeyes didn’t belong because they had only played 6 games.
In last season’s semifinal, one problem for the Buckeyes was that they settled for field goals too often when they reached the red zone. But on Friday, the Buckeyes outgained the Tigers 229-34 in the second quarter alone and ripped apart the Clemson defense for 5 consecutive touchdown drives to end the first half.
Clemson finally came up with a stop on the first OSU drive of the second half, when linebacker Mike Jones Jr. intercepted Fields in the end zone on what appeared to be a deflected pass. Lawrence drove his team right down the field on the ensuing drive, capped by his 10-yard touchdown pass to Cornell Powell.
Ohio State took a 28-14 lead with 5:12 left in the first half to cap a critical sequence of plays. On third down, Fields took off on a run and was stopped a couple of yards short of a first down on a crunching hit by linebacker and team captain James Skalski. But Skalski was ejected for targeting and the ensuing penalty gave the Buckeyes a first down. Fields went to the sideline for a play, then came back to hit Olave for a 9-yard score.
The Clemson defense, which came in giving up just 17.5 points per game, was already without all-ACC safety Nolan Turner for the first half because he was ejected for targeting in the ACC Championship Game against Notre Dame. Turner, like Skalski, is a team captain and one of the most critical members of the Clemson defense.
Fields hit tight end Jeremy Ruckert for a 17-yard touchdown to give the Buckeyes their first lead, 21-14, early in the second quarter. Ruckert’s second TD catch gave OSU a 35-14 lead with 11 seconds left in the first half.
Another Buckeyes tight end, Luke Farrell, outfought cornerback Derion Kendrick in the end zone to make an 8-yard touchdown catch from Fields late in the first quarter as OSU tied the score at 14.
The Tigers drove 82 yards for a score on their first possession, mostly using their speed to run plays outside, including Lawrence’s 2-yard TD run to cap the drive.
After the teams exchanged punts, the Buckeyes responded behind Sermon, who followed a 34-yard reception with a 32-yard touchdown run to tie it 7-7 with 7:59 left in the first quarter. Clemson went back on top with Travis Etienne’s 3-yard TD run to cap a 7-play, 76-yard drive for a 14-7 lead. That gave Etienne 468 career points, an ACC record.
But for the most part Etienne wasn’t a big factor, rushing for 32 yards on 10 carries through three quarters.
The Buckeyes were without 15 players including RB Master Teague, DLs Zach Harrison and Tyler Friday and G Harry Miller.
Now, they’re back in the national title game for the first time since winning it all in 2014.
Peeeeeewwwwww wee this Ohio state team means business! Watch out bama they comin and they ain’t backin down! Sermon and Master Teague gonna run all over that weak arse bama d worse than ole miss did!
How bad does it sting uga fans watching mr fields win a natty? To think if he stays you girls coulda ended that since 1980 stuff!
I’ll be dotting my Is for sure in ten days… geaux buckeyes geaux!
But I thought Clemson was the best team in the nation and Trevor Lawrence would single-handedly ruin us. I guess that won’t happen anymore, so sorry if I’m not too sure we will get boat-raced.
LMaO… Your predictions are like the LSU football team…. Garbage..
2019 LSU is the greatest college football team of all time…
Would mop the floor with these pip squeaks… just like Ohio state is gonna do.
To bad it’s not 2019… 2020 LSU couldn’t beat Mississippi State…
LSU will struggle to beat McNeese St after the NCAA has their way with them.
How mad you gonna be when the ncaa doesn’t do a thing sds67?
I heard about how will wade cheated and the death penalty is coming yet im still waiting… got a feeling the only punishment we receive is the punishment we hand out
Wrong! The hammer will come down. Bet on it.
If the NCAA wasn’t going to do anything LSU wouldn’t have punished themselves..
Will LSU have any players left if they actually take sexual harassment/assault seriously?
I guarantee we skull drag yall next year in tusca lose
$exual misconduct, lack of institutional control. I hope you’re waiting since good things come to those who wait.
Have fun losing your entire team! Tootles!
CHASEN HINES… HOLD THAT TIGER!
Enjoy being irrelevant… It’s really not knew for LSU…
New*
Why am I not shocked you misspelled new?
Remember to brush your teeth after kissing your sister goodnight in your trailer buddy!
Olave gonna chew surtain up and spit him out.
I’ve never seen someone talk out of their ass as much as Fantasy.
Wish we could have played y’all this year. We could have had a whopping 3 wins and gone to a real good bowl.
2019 LSU is not the best team of all time lmao
Alabama missed the playoffs for one year and came back strong. And unlike Cinderella program 2019 LSU we don’t fall out of relevance the years we go .
Bcreek, did you sleep thru the season? You did play LSU this season. Lol
Evidently he did. He conveniently forgets that his team got blown out by LSU and he didn’t realize that ND played as a member of the ACC this season. He’s on a roll.
No way fantasy.. Bama’s ‘92 & ‘09 teams were better than last years LSU team & id even say the gators ‘08 team with Tebow was better & probably both USC’s & Miami’s early 2000’s national championship teams were better
Nice one editllor. You just reached fantasy level.
Maybe one of the best offenses. The ’95 Huskers still the most physically dominant teams on both sides of the ball I’ve ever seen.
Move on.you say so really doesn’t matter
Ha .. Yeah just like lswho did.. I’ll give it to the buckeyes.. Great game but can they do it again? You forget bama is awfully good themselves.. Better than lswho 2019 .. Yeah we are Roll tide
No. You most definitely are not better than 2019 LSU
I am an Alabama fan and I hate LSU. But that 2019 team is an all time great. Can’t sustain it like the dynasty in Tuscaloosa though
Fantasyfootballgod, you are LSU’s wolfman.
tony, before you clicked on the “publish comment” button, did you ask yourself why you like reading Ffg. Leave me out of your cowardly kindergarten crayoning. You’re easy to find, but there’s reason why I don’t associate myself with your pulitzer prize practice.
I’m pretty sure there is a reason all the Missouri fans try their best to distance themselves from your crazy posts….
Take that as a compliment Wolf
Yep. Well coached and motivated.. A great combination. I think Clemson walked in thinking a typical ACC cellar dweller was the opponent.. #11 dabo?? Really..
No one gave OSU a chance, already had penciled CU into the 1/11 game and Dabo threw gas on the fire with his rankings and comments. It was great to see Climpsin taken to the woodshed. They should be home and scattered to the four winds by now. See ya Tigers!
Poor UGA. After all they have overshadowed you for awhile. Also, they can win titles. You will see them soon enough. #facts.
You talk about winning titles but are leagues away from even sniffing one in Gainesville. Thanks for retaining Grantham and keeping those blue and orange glasses on with Mullen (aka trashy Mark Richt)
Your magical season, in which Florida was primed for a strong NC run for the first time in over a decade, ended with a three game losing streak.
I never mentioned or thought about Florida when i wrote that comment about OSU. But now that I am thinking about Florida, congrats on achieving your normal 4 loses, and having the second best record in the East once again. We will see Climpsin weeks before we see your team again and will likely be on a roll when we arrive in Jax to take care of you for the 4th time in 5 years.
You said ND was going to skull drag Bama. Once again another one of your predictions was horribly wrong. Have you no shame? How many times do you have to be unbelievably wrong before you crawl back into the shadows and stop mouthing off? You have no credibility and no one takes you seriously.
Bama gonna have a target on Field’s ribs from the first play onwards.
Mitch was dazed and confused.
It’s because he got licks after his last game.
2021 starting off great, Dablow is again the laughing stock in cfb, clemsoning is back, karma is a you know what. And USC the only team in SC that is still undefeated against the suckeyes. The fall is beginning is dabo gonna still say hes been calling plays the entire time?
Is Carolina really undefeated against The OSU?
Yes. Also Veneables isn’t that good without sign stealing.
Impressive record against the Bucks, Very nice!
Not that impressive they won 2 games in ’01 and ’02
DieselNova = Shania Twain
Even while stealing the Buckeyes signs they could not stop em…priceless.
We’ve played OSU TWICE and WON both times! And the most ironic part of that is we had MR. OHIO – Ryan Brewer – on our team! He was awesome and was a major factor in both wins. The second time we beat them was the year before they went undefeated and won the Natty! That was back when we were a decent team!!
The hate is strong with this one…
Congrats on your 2020 national title Alabama
Pssht
The Ohio state win it all
You hate us cause you ain’t us.. Plus you obviously still hungover from last year.. Get over move on .. It’s over new year new team
Ohio State looked good and Clemson looked lost. They are definitely a top 4 team but only playing 6 games with 4 of those against teams with losing records was a advantage for OSU.
May be right, but might wanna let’em line up and play the game. Recall hearing similar things in 2014.
Ohio State was very impressive. Fields was very much improved from his last game. He certainly played way better than Trevor. If Ohio State can duplicate this performance, we could have a nice NCG.
On a different subject, what’s your interpretation of Fantasyfootballgod Marine?
Oh my. He’s out there. He jumped hopped on his third bandwagon. His favorite team is LSU. His second favorite team is whoever is playing Alabama.
Typical cajun
Can’t believe an Oh St fan is on here insulting the SEC. I guess you’ve got a habit of letting “typical cajuns” get under your skin – I know your football team does.
@ Coloradeaux TIGAH I lived in Louisiana for years, and Cajuns are crazy. I loved them anyway. Not one of them can’t cook. Cooking and having a good time is in their genes. It is having a good time that sometimes is difficult to survive.
The ACC has been exposed as a conference of weaklings. Sad that they took up half the top 4 slots. Texas A&M has to be crying tonight. The SEC ( except Florida) has played about as expected. The Big 10 and Big 12 has outperformed. Should be a great game on the Natty.
ND really isn’t ACC for football. Unless they entered this year.
I’m guessing you missed last weekend when ND played Clemson for the wait for it, ACC title game. They played this year in the ACC, 10 games I believe.
They only got in the ACC in order to play this year since few teams played out of conference. And the ACC was only too willing to prostitute themselves to have the Irish.
Happy to see the Buckeyes. Mac will eat up their secondary. I knew Clemson was in trouble deep with Nolan Turner out the first half. Then Skalski gets tossed for targeting (again), and that was the end of the Clemson defense. Dude should’ve learned by now.
I knew that dirty-playing Skalski was going to target someone, just did not know who or when. Players that are kicked-out for targeting should be sent to the locker room, not allowed to cheer their team from the sidelines. if you’re kicked-out they you’re off the field. We need that rule changed.
If either team gets three defensive stops, might have a winner.
Geaux Buckeyes!
The matchup that first jumps out to me is OSU d-line vs Bama o-line. They have a disruptive front that can get after the QB. Have to keep the pocket clean for Mac.
OSU got a Big lead and then just pinned their ears back once Clemson went one dimensional….
They knew they didn’t have to worry about the run anymore.
Their D line looks good. Took over the game and disrupted Trevor..
Agreed. Both teams are silly talented at skill positions. Both teams have better line play than Clemson. Win the trenches, probably win the game.
Bryan Kelly needs to be involuntarily committed for a psyc evaluation, dude said they were in the game and had a chance
Well now they DID have a chance and they WERE in the game, but didn’t REALLY have a chance once Bama got a 14 point lead but they were IN the game! That’s like us saying that we were IN the games that we got beat like a rented mule and we DID have a chance to win – usually in the .3% range! I do believe that Bama backed off and began running out the clock in the second quarter. They knew they could do what they wanted but held back!
Venables is supposed to be the greatest defensive mind on the planet. Clemson has gotten ripped by LSU and OSU. I guess stealing signals has not really been a factor
In Clemson’s defense, EVERYONE got ripped by LSU last season.
Bama lost by 5 points (without Tua) – the better team won, but not really a beat down.
It also makes a difference when playing teams with equal or better talent!
Clemson’s defense wasn’t even lined up on numerous plays. Oh State was doing things (huddles, changing the tempo, etc.) to block Clumpson from stealing signs. Apparently, too, Clemson hired a GA from Oh State at some point after last year’s semi-final. He knew the playbook and all the signals, so Oh State was well aware of need to change things up.
Kinda interesting that Clemson decided to hire the kid, too.
Man, we’re in for a good championship game.
I would joke about Clemsoning, but it was probably more along the lines that they didn’t have sufficient opportunities to gather and incorporate Ohio’s signals.
It’s Ohio State
Sorry, you’re right.
I guess it’s THE Ohio State if want to get technical.
Regardless, Clemson only played one Ohio, so I was comfortable that everyone knew THE one I was referring to.
Clemsoning for sure last nite…Ohio State kinda helped though.
As much as I hate to say this I’m glad osu put it on clemson.. Tired of hearing dabo nag and talk abt respect all week
One thing I’ll say about Herbstreit, he makes no excuses about being the biggest homer Ohio State has. ….. He actually said that only playing 6 games hurt Ohio State. Said on the air that the Buckeyes were feeling salty and that Saban had better watch out. Don’t mind him pulling for his Alma mater but his bias is really overwhelming.
The guy literally had to move out of Ohio because tOSU fans thought he was a traitor. Herbie is about as good an analyst on earth, to ask him to show zero love for his school is ridiculous.
slak…… you said zero tolerance, I didn’t.
Agreed. Plus, FWIW, his boys play for Clemson. I don’t remember him saying anything about Saban needing to watch out or whatever, but I may have missed it. Doesn’t sound like him, though.
Heard he moved out of Ohio for a few reasons, not all of them relating to college football or fans.
His sons play for Clemson. If you are listening to him looking for him to have bias toward OSU then you might have that opinion but I think he is fair. Only playing 6 games cuts both ways.
Agreed on playing 6 games. Less non-Covid wear and tear, but also fewer reps. Oh State’s secondary prob could have used the non-con schedule to learn some lessons, but they held up well against TL. Bama is a much stiffer challenge, for many reasons, but it begins with the quality of the Tide’s OL.
OSU finally figured klempson out. This has a chance to be a decent game.
Sermon might be the best player I’ve seen all year, size and speed for days. Bama better get right, not sure the games they played against UF and ND are going to cut it. Something to be said for a team with fresh legs, peaking at the right time. Looking forward to the Natty, hoping for a good game.
You’re right and that’s why I think Saban put the brakes on in the second quarter! You could see Bama was not going all out with their play calling!
By all accounts Sermon was a non-factor until the B1G championship game. Northwestern lacks playmakers, but they play solid run D. For him to go off for 331 against them was impressive, but most observers still chalked it up to the fact that he did it against NW. He looked beast on Friday, though. More than just about anything else, the emergence of a legit rushing threat in Sermon – paired with what was already a lethal passing game – makes Oh State dangerous. Smart money is on Bama, no doubt, but this is not your father’s B1G Ten team.
So does this mean Clemson is the 12th best team in the country now? LOL
That was the worst I have seen Clemson play in a playoff game. Their offense and defensive line looked horrible.
They didn’t look any better last season against LSU. They have a great program, but their last two seasons ended in ugly losses.
Severe over confidence and looking ahead to 1/11. Now they can look ahead to Labor Day and UGA.
In 2017 they weren’t much better. Though we are calling someone bad that made the playoffs.
True. Then again, maybe their opponent had something to do with the outcome. Just maybe.
Dabo Swinney’s mouth is inversely proportional to Clemson’s capabilities.
But at the same time, in the real world of positive tests for cooties, preparation and performance in any single contest doesn’t mean all that much. And that’s why Ohio State is still the team that only beat Indiana by less 7 points and could only put 22 points on the scoreboard against Northwestern. No disrespect intended but we are sizing up the top 20 performers of 2020.
He takes the title of Dan Mullet of the ACC.
Agreed. Just as we should throw out Bama’s defense versus Ole Miss and Florida, we should throw out Oh State’s offense vs. Northwestern or its defense versus Indiana. Transitive property has real limits.
So if bama curb stomps Ohio state, will everyone have to admit that a full roster Florida was at least the second best team in the country this year? Or will everyone’s bias keep them from seeing that?
No.
Ditto
Offensively Florida was great throwing the ball. But with an inability to run the ball and a mediocre defense Hell no ! Sorry
4 losses. One to a 5-5 team starting scout team players. So….no
A 3 game losing streak to end the season doesn’t happen to a top 10 team, never mind the #2 team. Win the games and we can talk.
This is the 2nd consecutive year Florida fans are using a close loss (moral victory) as the main evidence for Florida being one of the best teams in the country.
To answer your question, no a full roster Florida isn’t the 2nd best team.
I highly doubt it will be a curb stomping and NO!
“Full Roster” bs doesn’t apply. Or, LSU is top 5…
Second best teams in the country do not lose 4 games, nor do they lose 3 conference games, one to a team, at home, that had a losing record.
No.
Alabama will dog choke OSU.
I wanted to play OSU. Now that actually had to play a football game not going to be as rested . Having their whole team playing gives Bama film and a chance to game plan against them.
Possibly, but not probably. If Ohio State lacked sufficient offensive punch and big play potential, like ND, then maybe…but that’s not the case. Half of Ohio State’s starters were offered by Bama and vice versa. Both teams are ridiculously loaded.
Wow, I was looking forward to a Clemson-Bama matchup. What was going on with Clemson’s defense? They were never in the game.
Clemson readily admits that sign stealing is a big part of their strategy against teams.
It sort of makes one wonder if that’s why Ohio’s 6 game season was such a big deal for Dabo.
Ohio State’s offense is what was wrong with Clemson’s defense.
You got that right.
Clemson seems to struggle running the ball against elite offenses. They’re sometimes too quick to abandon the run and go pass-heavy. Not just against Ohio State, but also against LSU the previous year and even Notre Dame in November (which by the way is not an elite offense).
Really? Haven’t we seen that movie enough? It’s like Rocky VI at this point. Mixing it up, a little, is better for college football. Just not Clemson.
Amazing that if Ohio State pulls it off, they will have won the ‘national championship’ only playing 8 games
Why wouldn’t other conferences follow the Big 10 approach? Just play 5 conference games then a conference championship. If that team wins all 6 games they get a foot into the NCP.
Because….money!! Don’t forget college football is more about making money than it is determining a champion. And covid isn’t going to keep stadiums empty forever.
How about some cheese with that whine? That said the Naty is Bama’s to lose.
Is that your attempt to troll?
Money. Schools from major conferences cash big checks because of the TV contracts. No one is voluntarily giving that up.
Completely agree but I wonder what the other schools in th conference thinks. Would they have bent the rules for another team if the scenario was reversed and it was Ohio State getting pushed out of the Big Ten CG?
Don’t know if you’ve heard, but this season had to be revised a bit. Playing only six games is not a strategy.
Playing 6 games to 11 games shows. Big Ten had to bend the rules just so OSU could get in. Now you got a team who has played 12 games to a team that has played 7. Fresh legs are an advantage. Garbage that OSU says they have a disadvantage for only playing 6 games, you can blame your failed leadership for that.
I see it as a slap in the face to teams that played a FULL SEASON that the BEE ONE GEE violated their “integrity” to allow OSU to play their sixth game, but really, would the CFP have left them out? I highly doubt it! Now the well rested Buckeyes played out of their minds and whipped The Dabo’s as bad as anyone has since – LAST YEAR! It would be nearly criminal for Alabama to not win and allow the BEE ONE GEE to walk away with a title in a year when their liber-leaders tried to scuttle the entire season for all teams!
I’m not so sure Fields would call himself “well rested” after Friday. Playing fewer games cuts both ways. Yes, Ohio State has endured less wear & tear over the course of the season, but there’s also no doubt that the lack of reps for younger players (Oh St secondary) carries adverse implications. Besides, I seriously doubt that Coach Saban or his team would ever cry that they lost because the “criminal” BEE ONE GEE played fewer games. That’s not Alabama football.
Just go play the game.
OSU should give Bama all they can handle. But I still don’t think they should be in the playoff. What Dabo said wasn’t wrong.
Big news story is whether Sarkisian will be at this game. Rumor has it that he is about to have an Austin, TX, address.
Should be a good one. Looking forward to 01/13/2021!
Don’t see the SEC troll Pinebarrens talking crap now!
ROLL TIDE