Ohio State Football: 3 keys to victory in 2019 Fiesta Bowl vs. Clemson

COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 23: Justin Hilliard #47 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates with teammates /bbd4 #4 and Jeff Okudah #1 after intercepting a Penn State Nittany Lions pass in the fourth quarter at Ohio Stadium on November 23, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State defeated Penn State 28-17. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /

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Ohio State football returns to the College Football Playoff after a three-year absence. What are the keys to winning the Fiesta Bowl?

Ohio State will be making their third appearance in the College Football Playoff. The Buckeyes won the national championship in the first ever playoff to end the 2014 season. They would like a repeat performance.

In the Buckeyes way of advancing to the national title game are the Clemson Tigers. The Tigers faced off last against the Buckeyes in the same Fiesta Bowl in 2016, a playoff semi final. The Tigers were not kind to the Buckeyes, blasting them 31-0. Clemson would go on to defeat Alabama in the title game, winning their first national title since 1981.

Ohio State has never defeated Clemson, losing their other two appearances against the Tigers. They lost a shootout in the 2014 Orange Bowl 40-35. The other match-up was back in the 1978 Gator Bowl, a 17-15 Clemson victory but more famously, the Woody Hayes punch game.

The Buckeyes would love to reverse course and finally get a victory over Clemson. How can they win? Here are three keys to victory in the Fiesta Bowl.

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