Clemson vs. Ohio State
Clemson beat Ohio State 29-23 in last season’s semifinal, a game decided in the final minute.
These Buckeyes don’t have a pass rusher like Chase Young or a shutdown cornerback like Jeffrey Okudah. Those top-three draft picks allowed Ohio State to play mostly manto-man coverage last year.
McElroy said Ohio State is not as man-toman reliant this season. So how the Buckeyes go about generating pressure on Trevor Lawrence and what solutions Clemson has could determine the rematch.
Ohio State’s best defensive linemen are on the interior this year with Tommy Togiai and Haskell Garrett. On the other side, Clemson’s offensive line has fallen off from last season.
“They’re not playing well down the stretch,” Cubelic said.
Before wide receiver Cornell Powell emerged in the second half of the season for Clemson, tight end Braden Galloway was the Tigers’ steadiest receiver behind star Amari Rodgers. This could be a game for Galloway.
“I think he is just waiting to explode,” Cubelic said. “I think Clemson offers some matchups that are going to be problematic because I think Ohio State is going to have to bring more than four to get to Trevor Lawrence.”
Ohio State’s Justin Fields is the other future first-round NFL draft pick at quarterback in this game. He is coming off the worst performance of his college career in the Big Ten championship. Playing without star receiver Chris Olave surely didn’t help, though the junior is expected back for the semifinal.
Trey Sermon and the running game carried the Buckeyes to a Big Ten title and playoff spot. McElroy and Cubelic agreed that is the path for Ohio State to snap a four-game bowl losing streak against Clemson.
“That run game has got to go for them and that’s going to include the quarterback,” Cubelic said.
McElroy said the Buckeyes get pass happy instead of leaning on a talented offensive line led by guard Wyatt Davis and center Josh Myers.
“When they’re just in standard zone-read, they’re a problem,” he said.