The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
FIESTA BOWL
No. 2 Ohio State (13-0, Big Ten champions) vs. No. 3 Clemson (13-0, ACC champions) Glendale, Ariz. 8 p.m. ET, Dec. 28 ESPN
TOP PLAYERS
Clemson: QB Trevor Lawrence, 3,172 yards and 34 TDs passing with eight interceptions; RB Travis Etienne, 1,386 yards and 16 touchdowns rushing; WR Tee Higgins 52 receptions, 1,082 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Ohio State: RB J.K. Dobbins, 1,829 yards rushing and 20 TDs; DE Chase Young, 16 1/2 sacks.
NOTABLE
Clemson: The reigning national champion Tigers have won 28 straight games and are making their fifth straight College Football Playoff appearance. Clemson has won two of the past three national championships under coach Dabo Swinney. The Tigers are No. 3 in the CFP rankings.
Ohio State: The Buckeyes return to the CFP for the first time in three years after clinching a third straight Big Ten title with a 34-21 win over No. 10 Wisconsin. Ohio State dropped to No. 2 in the CFP rankings behind LSU. The Buckeyes are making their ninth Fiesta Bowl appearance, most of any team.
LAST TIME
Clemson 31, Ohio State, 0. (2016 Fiesta Bowl, CFP semifinal)
BOWL HISTORY
Clemson: 45th bowl appearance, 18th straight. Ohio State: 51st bowl appearance, eighth straight.
QUOTABLE
Clemson: “They’ve been unbelievable, one of the most dominant teams, every week, all year long, and that’s an unbelievable accomplishment,” Dabo Swinney said of Ohio State.
Ohio State: “They’re the defending champs and they haven’t lost since,” coach Ryan Day said of Clemson. “What they do on defense and what Brent Venables has done year in and year out, they’re the best defense in the country. If you look over the last five to 10 years, you can make a case that they are the best.”
KEY STATS
Clemson: The defending national champions are owners of the longest winning streak in the nation. The Tigers have won five consecutive ACC championships.
Ohio State: Young’s school-record 16.5 sacks, in 11 games, lead the nation and are the most by a Big Ten player in 21 years. He is first in the nation in tackles for loss per game (1.91) and tied for fourth with 21 tackles for loss, including 16 solo, for minus-129 yards (secondbest in the country).