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Here are some quick thoughts on Clemson’s 37-17 victory over Oklahoma at the Capital One Orange Bowl in Miami on Thursday:
What it means: With the victory today, the Clemson Tigers advance to the national championship game with an opportunity to win a national title. It will be head coach Dabo Swinney’s first national championship game as a head coach. He played in and won a national championship as a wide receiver at Alabama. For Clemson, it’s a chance to capture the program’s first title since 1981.
What I liked:
- Play-calling was excellent in Clemson’s opening drive. Taking advantage of an over-aggressive defense, the Tigers used a solid mix of run and pass (five each) to march 75 yards in 10 plays and take the early lead.
- Clemson’s fake punt early in the second quarter, a 31-yard pass completion from P Andy Teasdall to backup DT Christian Wilkins. The 6-foot-2, 268-pound redshirt freshman lumbered to the Sooners’ 13-yard line and Clemson took a 10-7 lead two plays later on a 5-yard touchdown run from Tigers’ QB Deshaun Watson.
- It’s a joy to watch a team utilize all its talent. Oklahoma has a plethora, and in a four-play 76-yard touchdown drive to take a 17-16 lead near the end of the first half, four different players made plays.
- Clemson came out with a purpose to start the second half. The Tigers methodically drove 75 yards on 12 plays to reassert itself and regain the lead, 23-17. Watson completed all five pass attempts for 26 yards.
- Watson put the team on his back in the first half, but the Tigers switched it up a little bit in the second half, effectively using their star quarterback as a decoy to move the ball up and down the field.
What I didn’t like:
- When offered an early gift, Clemson could not convert. After the Tigers defense pinned the Sooners deep in their own territory, a 24-yard punt gave them advantageous field position at Oklahoma’s 28-yard line. But Clemson failed to put the ball in the end zone. Instead, after a 9-play, 19-yard drive, the Tigers settled for a field goal and let the Sooners off the hook and Oklahoma maintained the lead at 7-3.
- You never want to see injuries occur, especially in a game of this importance. Clemson lost an offensive lineman early in the game and then defensive stalwart Shaq Lawson suffered a knee injury in the first quarter. Oklahoma also lost starting ILB Jordan Evans with a shoulder injury in the first half.
- With all the momentum on Oklahoma’s side early, FB Dimitri Flowers drew a an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, killing an OU drive and its early momentum.
- With Clemson driving for a possible go-ahead score near the end of the first half, QB Deshaun Watson, who a play earlier threw a pass away to avoid a sack, this time threw it up for grabs in the back of the end zone. Oklahoma intercepted and took a 17-16 lead into the locker room.
Who’s the man: Watson can beat you with his arm of his legs. The Heisman Trophy finalist put on a show in the Orange Bowl. The sophomore, as they say, is as good as advertised. Watson threw for 187 yards and a touchdown as well as rushing for 145 yards and another score.
Key play: The Clemson defense wasn’t fooled when on fourth-and-1 from the Tigers’ 30, the Sooners went for it late in the third quarter looking to take the lead. But as Sooners QB Baker Mayfield called the play along the offensive line, a direct snap went to Samaje Perine who was stuffed at the line of scrimmage for no gain by a gang of wise Tigers defenders. The Tigers proceeded to take over on downs and subsequently drive for a touchdown and a 30-17 lead.
What’s next: The Clemson Tigers advance to the College Football National Championship on Jan. 11 in Glendale, Ariz. They will meet the winner of the Cotton Bowl game between Alabama and Michigan State.
Glenn Sattell is an award-winning freelance writer for Saturday Down South.
