The Clemson Tigers will face the Ohio State Buckeyes on New Year’s Eve in the Fiesta Bowl in Arizona. The winner of the College Football Playoff semifinal game moves on to the national championship game Jan. 9, 2017, in Tampa, Fla., against the winner of the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl between Alabama and Washington.
1. KEY PLAYER, OFFENSE: J.T BARRETT
While Curtis Samuel has starred as the ideal multipurpose weapon in Urban Meyer’s offense, it’s quarterback Barrett who runs the show.
In 12 games, the Griese-Brees Big Ten Quarterback of the Year and co-recipient of the Chicago Tribune’s Silver Football Award has completed 61.9 percent of his passes for 2,428 yards and 24 touchdowns while throwing just five interceptions. Barrett has also done damage to Ohio State’s opponents on the ground, rushing for 847 yards and nine scores.
Despite being a third-year starter, this postseason will mark Barrett’s first appearance in the College Football Playoff. As a redshirt freshman, Barrett sustained a broken ankle just before the Buckeyes’ run to a national title in 2014.
“The goal was reached, being that we have a national championship ring, but I think playing in it is something totally different,” Barrett said. “I was able to watch and help our team from the sidelines but playing in it, like I said, that’s totally different. That’s something I definitely want to be a part of.”
With Ohio State now back in the College Football Playoff — thanks in no small part to the play of its quarterback — Barrett now has an opportunity to do just that.
2. KEY PLAYER, DEFENSE: MALIK HOOKER
Replacing eight starters on defense from a season ago, the Ohio State coaching staff had its work cut out for itself entering the 2016 season. But the rapid development of players such as safety Hooker went a long way toward keeping the Buckeyes in championship contention.
There may not be a player in college football who has ascended more quickly from no-name to star this season than Hooker has. After primarily playing special teams a year ago, Hooker earned consensus All-American honors in his first season as a starter, tallying 67 tackles, five of which came for a loss, and a Big Ten-best six interceptions.
It’s what Hooker has done with the ball in his hands this season, however, that’s been most impressive. Taking three of his six interceptions back for touchdowns, no defensive back in college football has found the end zone as frequently as Hooker has in 2016.
Just how good can the redshirt sophomore be?
“He can be the best there is,” says Ohio State co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Greg Schiano.
Considering Schiano also coached Ed Reed during his time at Miami (Fla.), that’s certainly saying something.
3. KEY GAME OF THE SEASON
Although the Buckeyes found themselves in no shortage of close calls this year, no game defined Ohio State’s season more than its epic No. 2 vs. No. 3 showdown with rival Michigan on Nov. 26.
Trailing the Wolverines 17-7 late in the third quarter, the Buckeyes’ College Football Playoff aspirations were on the ropes. But Ohio State scored 10 consecutive points in the final 16:01 of regulation, with a 23-yard Tyler Durbin field goal with forcing the first overtime in the history of the storied rivalry.
After the two contenders traded touchdowns in the initial overtime period, the Buckeyes managed to hold Michigan to a 37-yard field goal on the opening series of the second overtime. Needing a touchdown to win the game, Ohio State embarked on the most important drive of its season.
After a weaving Curtis Samuel 8-yard reception, J.T. Barrett converted a controversial fourth-and-1. One play later, Samuel darted 15 yards and leaped into the end zone to clinch a 30-27 double-overtime win, punching the Buckeyes’ ticket to the College Football Playoff in the process.
“That’s an instant classic between two great teams,” Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said afterward. “We knew going in it was going to be that way.”
4. UNSUNG PLAYER: JALYN HOLMES
Although he’s not officially listed as a starter on the Ohio State depth chart, Holmes, a defensive lineman, has become one of the Buckeyes’ most important defenders.
A junior, Holmes has tallied the second-most tackles for loss on the Ohio State roster this season with 8.5, two of which have been sacks.
But Holmes’ true value to the Buckeyes has come in the form of his versatility. With the ability to play any spot on the defensive line, Holmes has allowed Buckeyes defensive line coach Larry Johnson to utilize a “Rushmen” package, which simultaneously features four pass-rushers on obvious passing downs.
In such situations, Holmes often lines up as a defensive tackle. But thanks to his combination of size and speed, Holmes has made a habit of finding his way into opposing backfields.
“It’s just team defense. We’ve got something good going on,” Holmes said of the Rushmen package. “Just to play complete team defense, you’ve got to do everything — pass rush, stop the run.
In an effort to stop Deshaun Watson and Clemson’s potent passing attack, Holmes should find himself on the field early and often in the Fiesta Bowl.
5. STRONGEST UNIT: SECONDARY
The coordinator of a 2000 Miami Hurricanes defense that featured three future first-round picks in its secondary alone, Greg Schiano knows a thing or two when it comes to dominating defensive backs.
And as far as his career is concerned, the now-Ohio State co-defensive coordinator has yet to coach a secondary more impressive than the one he has this year.
“I’ve never coached a secondary as talented as this, and I’ve been doing this for 30 years,” Schiano said. “We had some talented ones in Miami, but this, to me, is the best.”
Not only do the Buckeyes feature a unanimous All-American in Hooker, but two potential first-round picks at cornerback in Gareon Conley and Marshon Lattimore. Cornerbacks Denzel Ward and Damon Arnette provide additional depth, giving Schiano and Buckeyes cornerbacks coach Kerry Coombs the ability to rotate players on a consistent basis.
“To be able to roll over the corners and keep them fresh has been critical to our success,” Schiano said.
The Ohio State secondary has yet to be tested like it will be in the Fiesta Bowl, facing the nation’s seventh-ranked passing offense. But to this point in the season, the Buckeyes defensive backs have more than held their own.
6. MOST VULNERABLE UNIT: OFFENSIVE LINE
There isn’t a more confounding unit on the Ohio State roster than the Buckeyes’ offensive line.
On the one hand, the OSU offensive line features two All-Americans in guard Billy Price and Rimington Trophy-winning center Pat Elflein. As a result, the Buckeyes’ rushing offense has ranked ninth in the nation this season with an average of 258.33 yards per game.
But while Ohio State has been strong on the ground, the Buckeyes have struggled to move the ball through the air on a consistent basis. A big part of that has been an offensive line that has allowed 25 sacks this season, including six in a loss to Penn State and eight against Michigan.
In particular, right tackle Isaiah Prince has struggled in his first season as a starter. But Meyer insists that the sophomore has been making strides in bowl practice in the weeks leading to the Fiesta Bowl.
“I’ve never seen a guy work harder in the last two weeks since that last game,” Meyer said of Prince. “Even on days off he is coming in here and getting extra work.”
Facing one of the best defensive lines in college football, the Buckeyes are going to need their front five to be at their best against Clemson.
7. HOW OHIO STATE CAN WIN THE FIESTA BOWL
There are two matchups to keep an eye on in the Fiesta Bowl, which likely will decide who will move on to play in the College Football Playoff championship game.
When Clemson has the ball, the Buckeyes need to take advantage of a Tigers offense that hasn’t always taken care of the ball in 2016. While Heisman Trophy runner-up Deshaun Watson is talented, he’s also been turnover-prone, tallying 15 interceptions on the season. With the playmaking ability that exists in Ohio State’s secondary, there should be opportunities for the Buckeyes defense to help put points on the board on New Year’s Eve.
On offense, Ohio State is going to need to protect J.T. Barrett. Clemson’s defense ranks second in the nation in sacks and tackles for loss this season. If Barrett doesn’t get much time against the Tigers’ talented defense, the Buckeyes won’t have much of a chance.
But if Ohio State’s defense can aid its offensive counterpart’s field position and the Buckeyes can keep their star quarterback standing, Ohio State could very well be in line for a trip to Tampa for an appearance in the national title game.
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