A dive into Ohio State and Clemson’s series history

The #2 Clemson Tigers (10-1) will take on the #3 Ohio State Buckeyes (6-0) in the College Football Playoff Semifinal for the second year in-a-row. Ryan Day looks to avenge his lone loss as a head coach, and play for a National Championship.

480 miles separate Clemson, SC and Columbus, OH. The Tigers and Buckeyes have only ever met in the postseason, and have only played each other just four times, but this has turned into a great rivalry in the last few years.

It all started with the 1978 Gator Bowl. #20 Ohio State and #7 Clemson. Legendary OSU Head Coach Woody Hayes was in his 27th year as the leader of the Buckeyes. It was late in the fourth quarter, the Buckeyes down 17-15, but they had the ball and were driving into field goal range. It was third-and-five with under two minutes to go, OSU just trying to continue the drive with a first down, or get even better field position for a potential game-winning field goal.

Ohio State QB Art Schlichter took the snap, was pressured, and was intercepted by Clemson’s nose tackle, Charlie Bauman. Bauman had a short interception return and was tackled near the sideline, very close to Woody Hayes. Woody was not known for being well-mannered, to say the least. He immediately grabbed Bauman by the collar and began to throw a punch. Clemson went on to win the Gator Bowl, and that was the end of Woody’s coaching career.

The two teams would not meet again until the 2014 Orange Bowl. The Buckeyes had narrowly missed the BCS Championship game after suffering a loss to Michigan State in the Big Ten Championship in their previous game. Braxton Miller and the Buckeyes would have quite the challenge, as they took on the Tajh Boyd-led Clemson Tigers.

After falling behind 20-9 late in the first half, Braxton Miller and the Buckeyes would find the end zone twice before heading into halftime, holding on to a 22-20 lead. Ohio State would also strike first in the second half to increase their lead to nine. Clemson then answered with two touchdown passes from Tajh Boyd- one to Sammy Watkins, and one to Martavis Bryant. The Tigers took a 34-29 lead into the fourth quarter.

Braxton Miller connected with Carlos Hyde for a 14-yard touchdown early in the fourth to take a one-point lead. About five minutes later Boyd and the Tigers answered with a touchdown of their own to make it 40-35.

Ohio State would get the ball back, down by just five with 6:11 remaining. Miller moved the ball with a 21-yard pass to Philly Brown, and then a 16 yard run into Clemson territory. Two plays later on third-and-13, Miller dropped back to pass, was hit as he began to throw, and fumbled the football. Clemson recovered the ball around mid-field.

Things were not looking good for the Buckeyes, as Clemson now had the ball and the lead with just over four minutes remaining. With some help from penalties, the Bucks forced Clemson into a third and long. Boyd rushed his throw and was picked off by Ohio State’s C.J. Barnett. Ohio State had a chance.

Still just a five-point game, a banged-up Braxton Miller led his team back onto the field with 1:24 remaining. The drive would last just two plays. After an incompletion it was second down, Miller threw a bullet pass up the middle of the field and was intercepted by Clemson’s Stephone Anthony. The Tigers would take a knee and the game was over. That was the final game Braxton Miller started as QB for Ohio State.

The two teams would meet again on Dec. 31, 2016 in the CFP Semifinal Game at the Fiesta Bowl. Ohio State was the 3 seed, Clemson the 2 seed. Ohio State had high hopes going into the game just two seasons removed from a National Championship and had gone 11-1 with a massive double-overtime win over then #3 Michigan. Unfortunately for Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes, Deshaun Watson and the Tigers were too much to handle and demolished OSU with a final score of 31-0.

Taking a short rewind to December of 2019- another CFP Semifinal game, and back at the Fiesta Bowl. Ohio State enters as the #2 seed, after splitting time with LSU as the #1 team throughout the season. Clemson, like OSU, was undefeated and champions of their conference and entered as the #3 seed. Ohio State, with visions of being down 31-0 still in the back of their mind, jumped out to a 16-0 lead after three field goals by Blake Haubeil and a 68-yard run by J.K. Dobbins.

It was third and five near midfield for Trevor Lawrence and the Tigers. Lawrence faced pressure and was hit as he threw, and the pass was incomplete, forcing the Tigers into a punting situation. After the play, Lawrence laid on the field, motionless with his eyes closed.

The SEC officials gathered and threw a late flag, and called targeting against Ohio State’s Shaun Wade. This gave Clemson a fresh set of downs and Wade was ejected on the questionable call. Clemson would go on to score on the drive, and their following drive to get them back into the game. It was 16-14 at the half.

Two significant plays happened in the third quarter of the 2019 Fiesta Bowl. Trevor Lawrence’s 53-yard touchdown pass to Travis Etienne, and a crucial overturned fumble recovery, in favor of the Tigers.

It was third and 19 for the Tigers, on their own 20. Lawrence connects with Justyn Ross, he makes the catch but Ohio State’s Jeff Okudah strips the ball, Jordan Fuller recovers and takes it to the end zone to put the Buckeyes back up 22-21.

The ruling on the field was a completed catch and fumble recovery for a score. There was no argument from any Clemson player on the field, no one was arguing that the call was wrong. The SEC officials reviewed it, and unbelievably changed the call on the field to an incompletion, taking away an Ohio State touchdown.

In the fourth quarter, both teams would exchange touchdowns. Clemson’s came with 1:49 to go, and they added the two-point conversion to make the score 29-23. Still plenty of time for Justin Fields and OSU. The Buckeyes would march down the field and get to Clemson’s 23-yard line. Ohio State needing a touchdown to tie, and an extra point to win.

Fields dropped back with time, fired to the end zone for Chris Olave, but the routes got mixed up and the ball went directly to Clemson’s Nolan Turner to seal the victory for Clemson. Easily one of the most emotionally deflating losses in the recent history of Ohio State football. The questionable calls from the officials, and a simple mistake that cost the Buckeyes a shot at the National Championship.

In meeting number five, the Buckeyes will look to finally beat Clemson for the first time in series history. Ohio State is the underdog this time around, as Clemson opens up as 7.5-point favorites. Justin Fields came back to Ohio State this season in hopes of winning a Heisman Trophy and a National Championship. The Heisman is not going to happen, but a National Title would cement himself in Ohio State lore for eternity.

The Sugar Bowl game will be played in New Orleans on Jan. 1, 2021 at 8:00 PM ET and will be televised on ESPN.