Ohio State Football: 3 player matchups that will decide 2019 Fiesta Bowl
By Will Koger
Three one-on-one matchups that will help decide the Fiesta Bowl Semifinal between Ohio State football and Clemson. Plus a look at the coaching matchups.
Ohio State and Clemson come into the Fiesta Bowl ranked as the two best teams in college football by many measures, including ESPN’s FPI, Sagarin and The Power Rank.
AP voters and the College Football Playoff Committee, however, see the Buckeyes and Tigers as second and third behind number one LSU. But based on some of these metrics which are used to set betting lines, the winner of this semifinal may well be favored in the national title game no matter who wins the Peach Bowl.
Regardless, this should be a great game that is close wire-to-wire. As such, there are a few one-on-one matchups that could go a long way in deciding this game, on both sides of the ball.
Before I get to these matchups, two that should be mentioned are the coaching matchups on each side of the ball. First-year Ohio State head coach Ryan Day retained play-calling duties after being promoted from offensive coordinator and has solidified his place as one of the premier offensive minds in the country.
The Urban Meyer to Day transition is often compared to Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops to Lincoln Riley switch, and for good reason, as Day and Riley are arguably the two brightest offensive-oriented head coaches in college football. Day calls crossing routes to confuse man defenses such as Don Brown’s Michigan Wolverine defense to the tune of 125 points and 709 passing yards in two matchups.
Day’s Buckeye offense will have to deal with veteran Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables. Clemson’s defensive front may lack the star power of recent years – missing players such as Clelin Ferrell, Christian Wilkins, Dexter Lawrence, and others – but the fact that this version of the Tigers’ defense led the country in fewest points and yards allowed might make this Venables’ best coaching job of his career – which is saying something.
When Clemson’s offense faces the Ohio State defense, the coaching matchup is notable for where else the coordinators’ attention might be – their new jobs. Clemson’s offensive coordinator Jeff Scott was hired to replace Charlie Strong at South Florida, while Ohio State’s first-year co-defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley is headed to Chestnut Hill to become Boston College’s new head coach.
Since both coaches are in extremely similar situations it cannot be considered an advantage for either team, but it is certainly something to watch.
With the sidelines having been addressed, let’s see three player matchups that will help decide the Fiesta Bowl.