Clemson football: Tiger fans everywhere should want the Buckeyes

Clemson football wants the best to prove they are the best.

Over the last 10 days or so, Clemson football social media has been full of fans talking about how Ohio State shouldn’t be in the national title conversation because they will only have played eight games.

That couldn’t be further from reality. Not only do those within Clemson football want to play Ohio State, but they also need to play Ohio State in 2020 and that isn’t even arguable. Champions don’t want cakewalks to national titles, fans do.

Growing up in a Michigan household and as a Clemson alumnus, I loathe Ohio State more than the average person, it is part of my DNA. However, I also understand how valuable a win over Ohio State would be for the Tigers in 2020.

Whether Ohio State plays eight games or not, they are one of the most talented teams in the country, again something that is not debatable. They are also one of the biggest reasons that the Big Ten is going to play football in 2020 after all. From the jump, the Buckeyes were not trying to duck anyone and wanted to play a full schedule.

If they go 8-1 or 9-0 and are the Big Ten champions, they absolutely deserve a spot in the College Football Playoff. In a year that has been anything but normal, holding them accountable for Kevin Warren’s actions is ridiculous.

Clemson football will play anyone anywhere.

Clemson football head coach Dabo Swinney has always had an “anytime anywhere” mantra and has never backed down from an opponent nor has he ever lobbied for an opponent to be left in the cold. He knows that for a title to be taken seriously in 2020 that the best four teams have to battle for it and not simply the best four teams that played __ number of games.

If we are being honest, rankings every year are usually based on a team’s best eight or nine games anyway.

Clemson’s win over Citadel in 2020, or Furman, Akron, South Carolina State, or any other FCS or small group of five teams is never a factor in the rankings. The same goes for Ohio State. Playing a directional Michigan school or Ohio University is never a factor.

I think every Clemson football fan will admit that the crying from Buckeye nation after last year’s defeat has become overwhelmingly dumb and there has to be a part of you that wants to see them match up again in 2020 so that we can improve to 5-0 all-time and show that 2019 was not a fluke.

There is obviously a lot of football left to be played in 2020 and a lot of things can will more than likely change between now and December 20th, so we should all sit back, relax and enjoy whatever comes our way this seasons and stop hoping for teams to fail so that it makes Clemson’s path to a national championship easier.