Ohio State Football: 3 player matchups that will decide 2019 Fiesta Bowl

2. Justyn Ross/Tee Higgins vs. Damon Arnette

Clemson’s two-headed receiving monster of Ross and Higgins has combined for 107 receptions, 1,824 yards, and 21 touchdowns. Ohio State also has two elite corners, Jeffrey Okudah and Shaun Wade. However, Wade is entrenched as the slot corner, which means that he will spend most of the game covering Clemson’s Y (slot) receiver, Amari Rodgers.

Ohio State’s second outside cornerback is fifth-year senior Damon Arnette. Arnette, while a very good player, does not possess the same type of talent of Okudah or Wade, in a similar way that Rodgers is not quite as great a receiver as Ross or Higgins. While Wade typically covers the slot, he did spend some time outside due to injuries to Arnette and Okudah.

Additionally, Arnette has been a slot cornerback in the past when first talents like Denzel Ward and Okudah held the outside corner positions. It will be interesting to see if Hafley mixes up the matchups to get Wade and Okudah on Ross and Higgins, but Ohio State’s base defense consists of Arnette and Okudah outside with Wade in the slot.

This means Arnette will be covering Ross or Higgins for most of the game, which might be an advantage for whichever Clemson wide receiver is lined up opposite Arnette. He has good cover skills, but he often gets handsy and draws unnecessary penalties. It will be important for Arnette to play a great game and at least slow down these freaky Tiger receivers and thus the big play Clemson offense.