Game Thread: CFP SEMIFINAL: Clemson (13-0) vs Ohio State (13-0) 8pm ET ESPN

[Kace-1]

The calendar year 2019 had 2 Fiesta Bowls. Both featured a team called the Tigers winning by 1 score.

This marks the 4th consecutive Fiesta Bowl in which the winning team was feline nicknamed, 3 Tigers and 1 Nittany Lion. Of those, 2 of them were Clemson beating Ohio State.

The last non-feline nicknamed team to win the Fiesta Bowl? The Ohio State Buckeyes who defeated Notre Dame on January 1, 2016. 1 year earlier, the most recent Fiesta Bowl between a pair of Western teams was played as Boise State defeated Arizona. This game is also the last Fiesta Bowl in which a feline nicknamed team lost, in this case the Wildcats.

With last night's Fiesta Bowl, Ohio State increases its lead to 2 over Penn State for most appearances, now at 9. Their record is 5-4. Half of their losses are to Clemson.

The last Independent to play in this game is Notre Dame, who lost to Ohio State on January 1, 2016. The last Independent to win this game is Penn State, just 2 seasons before joining the Big Ten. The 1991 Nittany Lions beat Tennessee. This victory capped off a 6 year winning streak by Independents in the Fiesta Bowl with both PSU wins bookending the run and the 4 in between being won by Florida State twice, Notre Dame, and Louisville.

Independents still account for the most appearances at 20, most wins and losses, both at 10.

Penn State still has the best Fiesta Bowl record at 7-0.

 

[HuskerBruce]

If Ohio St was the best team ever like some claimed 4 or 5 weeks ago, they would have turned those field goals into touchdowns and these calls that "screwed" them would have been a non factor.

Clemson won. They are going to play LSU. That is all.

 

[The Oldtimer]

If Ohio St was the best team ever like some claimed 4 or 5 weeks ago, they would have turned those field goals into touchdowns and these calls that "screwed" them would have been a non factor.

Clemson won. They are going to play LSU. That is all.

And like I said before, if Ohio State would have played defense on Clemson's last scoring drive, then those calls would have been non factors.

 

[JuiceTheGator]

Very well then, I'll just take the last word:




Fuck Ohio State...the permanently overrated suck school from America's armpit.


//

 

[The Oldtimer]

Honestly that was a bad call he made 3-4 steps and the ball didn't even move. Finally on the 4th or 5th step it was knocked loose. If they called it incomplete on the field I'd say it was incomplete but it was called a catch on the field and there was no evidence that the ball was moving. Bad overturn

It could have changed the game but in the end it wouldn't have impacted anything had Ohio State scored TDs in the redzone, didn't hit the punter when they were going to get great field position, and if their corner had wrapped up Lawrence to tackle him instead of trying to lay a big hit on him

They made too many mistakes to beat Clemson

Yes good comment and that is the bottom line.

 

[WizardHawk]

Done with you dunce. Not only are many defending in the general and specific, so were you.

Yet you can't find one example. As usual. Have fun in your failed thread. You clearly didn't have any success here either.

 

[olympicoscar]

The real reason it was the key play of the game was that it pissed the Clemson players off. They didn't like some thug earholing Trevor with the crown of his helmet. Up until that point, Ohio State had dominated the offensive and defensive lines and had been far more physical. After that, Clemson completely took over.

As far as the penalty, I hate targeting calls in general. I think the rules are far too strict and its stupid to eject a player for something that could have been inadvertent (I don't think it was here since he lowered his head - as the announcers said - despite their favoring the Buckeyes). I'd say make it a personal foul, 15 yards and a first down, but if a player commits two personal fouls, they're out. But as the rules state, that was textbook targeting. Both teams had bad calls (Munford (I think that's who it is) held Xavier Thomas all night), but that wasn't one of them.

I never said the penalty was unjust, based on the rules, but the rules makers are just damn wrong. It's almost impossible to avoid what happened. Trevor Lawrence is not an easy person to take down. So Wade hit him hard. It was intentional. I don't think his intent was to take him out of the game or injure him. This rule is making a mess of college football.

 

[JuiceTheGator]

I never said the penalty was unjust, based on the rules, but the rules makers are just damn wrong. It's almost impossible to avoid what happened. Trevor Lawrence is not an easy person to take down. So Wade hit him hard. It was intentional. I don't think his intent was to take him out of the game or injure him. This rule is making a mess of college football.

Wade should have kept his head up, then.

Derp.

 

[Across The Field]

Granted tons of coaches have taken over talented teams and done significantly less than Day. But, if you don't think there is a difference in taking over a program that is in good shape versus one that is a total wreck...and don't acknowledge such difference, then there isn't any reason to continue any type of conversation.

I don't even know what your point was to begin with, though.

 

[ElTexan]

Wade should have kept his head up, then.

Derp.

Head up would have him headbutt the qb , more directly helmet to helmet.

you dolts are literally arguing for the more dangerous helmet to helmet play

 

[Across The Field]

So? It's still "helmet to helmet" hit on the QB. Of course Wade didn't do it on purpose, but a rule is a rule. Now should the rule be looked at for next season, probably so.

It was "helmet to helmet" because of the QB. Simple as that.

When Wade was getting ready to engage, he was going at Lawrence's mid-section. If Lawrence doesn't drop down at the final second, Wade's helmet doesn't contact any part of him, and his right shoulder drive's through Lawrence's mid-section. This is literally a textbook tackle. The fact that they give the QB the power to drastically alter a game by taking advantage of a ridiculously ludicrous rule cost OSU big. That's why this conversation is happening all over the place.

 

[Across The Field]

What's worse - on the same play, this penalty was conveniently allowed to happen, that if called would've offset the OSU penalty and they would've replayed 3rd down and long with Clemson's backup QB in.

So yeah, OSU got royally screwed on a play that dramatically changed the game.

 

[The Oldtimer]

It was "helmet to helmet" because of the QB. Simple as that.

When Wade was getting ready to engage, he was going at Lawrence's mid-section. If Lawrence doesn't drop down at the final second, Wade's helmet doesn't contact any part of him, and his right shoulder drive's through Lawrence's mid-section. This is literally a textbook tackle. The fact that they give the QB the power to drastically alter a game by taking advantage of a ridiculously ludicrous rule cost OSU big. That's why this conversation is happening all over the place.

Whatever, the penalty was called and now we will have to live it.

 

[dtgold88]

It was two or three steps...with a lot of assistance. As a neutral observer, I didn't think it was a catch.

Problem is to overturn it one needs to be sure. I don't disagree if ruled on the field incomplete one could argue not enough to overturn.

 

[dtgold88]

Leading with the crown of the helmet and hitting the player anywhere can be called for targeting according to the rules.

It can also not be called, like the ref on the field thought.

 

[dtgold88]

And that doesn't change a thing. You aren't watching football if you haven't seen targeting called many times a year where the player lowered their head before impact and were still hit by an incoming defender that then gets taken out.

Again, every time this comes up fans of the team on the losing end want to debate the wrong elements. Hate the rule, not the call.

Problem is this one was far from a sure thing as far as this call goes. You cannot tell me you haven't seen harder hits than that let go.

QB did a nice sell job, as well.

 

[dtgold88]

Video evidence showed him leading with the crown of the helmet...doesn't matter what Lawrence did.

Actually, yeah, it does. Your helmet can be in front of you, but I'm sure you know this.

By your "logic" every QB who is about to go down should just bow.

 

[dtgold88]

I can understand the penalty, but not the ejection. The ejection should only be when it's evident the hit was intended to be malicious and avoidable.

Agree....in which case they cannot call the penalty as only targeting can be called on review. Not just a simple helmet to helmet.

 

[dtgold88]

There's no way he was faking it on the ground. That hit rattled him and he should have gone through the protocol.

and yet he didn't.

 

[dtgold88]

It's indisputable that the OSU defender led with the crown of the helmet.

All of this garbage about what Lawrence did is irrelevant to whether it is a penalty.

no matter how many times you repeat this it wont be true. But troll on.