Clemson Football: How does Ohio State beat the Tigers?

How does Clemson football come away with a loss against Ohio State? Here’s a look at the checklist for the Buckeyes to beat the Tigers.

The Clemson football team will take on the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Playstation Fiesta Bowl Saturday in Glendale, Arizona.

The winner of the matchup will advance to the National Championship in New Orleans to play the winner of the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, LSU vs. Oklahoma.

The Tigers are currently listed as a 2-point favorite, courtesy of the Action Network, and will be looking to advance to the National Championship game for the fourth time in the last five seasons.

Though Clemson football is listed as the favorites, the Tigers could certainly lose the match-up if certain things went in favor of the Buckeyes.

We’ve talked extensively about how Clemson wins the game, but today let’s take a look at how the Tigers lose.

How the Tigers lose:

• Ohio State’s pass-rush is too much
• The Buckeyes control the lines of scrimmage
• Clemson doesn’t cover the middle of the field
• Justin Fields doesn’t turn the ball over, rushes successful
• J.K. Dobbins has a solid night
• Clemson can’t the rushing game going
• Tigers turn the ball over

This game will be decided basically in three key areas:

1. Along the lines of scrimmage
2. On the shoulders of Justin Fields
3. Turnovers

Can Clemson contain that Ohio State pass-rush or is it too much? The Buckeyes don’t need to just have an advantage along the lines of scrimmage to beat the Tigers. They need a sizeable and recognizable advantage on both sides of the ball.

In addition to that, Ohio State needs Justin Fields to play one of the best games of his career. J.K. Dobbins will definitely be an intricate part of the game plan, but I’m thinking more and more that Fields will be the difference, for good or for bad.

Fields will look to scramble and run the ball- similar to Bryce Perkins– especially if Clemson doesn’t cover the middle well. He’s not going to throw the ball into tight coverage, so the Tigers have to contain him and force him to make difficult throws, instead of getting lost with their eyes in the backfield or not playing assignments.

If you want a checklist for how Ohio State beats Clemson, this is it. The Buckeyes need a few things to go their way, but it will be interesting to see how the Tigers counter and how this game plays out Saturday night in Glendale.