TBT: Tigers Blank the Bucks

By Zachary Wagner

Following a 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship Game loss to Alabama, Deshaun Watson and the Clemson Tigers Football Team saw themselves back in the College Football Playoffs the following season. To get back to the National Championship Game the Tigers would have to take on the No. 3 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona. 

Clemson entered the game with a 12-1 record and were led by the Heisman Trophy runner up Deshaun Watson. The Buckeyes entered the contest with a 11-1 record and became the first team in CFP history to make the playoffs without playing in their respective conference Championship Game. 

Ohio State entered the game as a three point favorite against Clemson but every player on the Clemson roster had one thing on their mind during bowl prep and the week leading up to the game; getting back to the National Championship game and winning it. 

It was obvious the Clemson defense came to play in the first quarter, forcing the Buckeyes to punt on their first possession and forced a missed field goal on their second possession. Clemson got on the board first knocking in a field goal from 45 yards out to take a 3-0 lead halfway through the opening quarter.

Ohio State missed a second consecutive field goal on their following possession and the Tigers answered with a 11 play touchdown drive capped off with a 1-yard touchdown run from none other than Deshaun Watson.

With Clemson leading 10-0 entering the second quarter of the semi-final game, both teams tried to find footing, but both defenses stood tall. Clemson capitalized with just over six minutes before half, extending its lead to 17-0 after a 30-yard touchdown connection between Watson and CJ Fuller. 

The Clemson defense held the Buckeyes to only 88 yards of total offense in the first half, compared to the Tigers 275 yards of offense. 

When Dabo Swinney and the Tigers walked down the tunnel of The University of Pheonix Stadium for the second half, they knew they were just 30 minutes away from accomplishing their goal of getting back to the National Championship Game. 

The Clemson defense had the greatest game in College Football Playoff history holding the Buckeyes to just 215 total yards of offense to the Tigers 470 yards of offense. 

The Tigers claimed the Fiesta Bowl victory 31-0 over the Buckeyes and propelled them to the University’s first National Championship in over 30 years following a last second win over Alabama in the 2017 National Championship Game. Everyone will remember Hunter Renfrows touchdown catch with 2 seconds remaining against Alabama, but Tiger fans will never remember the stomping Clemson put on Ohio State to get there.