Clemson football will have a big advantage Friday in New Orleans.
If you know anything about the state of Louisiana, it has been a house of horrors for Clemson football. The Tigers are 0-4 in postseason games in the state, including a 0-2 mark under head coach Dabo Swinney.
Those two losses under Swinney came in January of 2018 and January of 2020 in the College Football Playoffs.
However, Clemson football has one big advantage when the game kicks-off in six days – junior quarterback and Heisman Trophy finalist Trevor Lawrence.
Everyone has made a big deal about Ohio State playing just six games in 2020, but it actually plays into the favor of the Tigers. Not only has Lawrence been lights out in his four previous playoff games but his counterpart, Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields has not been.
Justin Fields
In the 20 games that Fields has started at Ohio State, he has faced off against nine teams that were ranked at the time.
In those nine games, Fields finished 166/262 (63%) for 2,214 yards, 20 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. He has appeared in just one College Football Playoff game where he finished 30/46 for 320 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions, and of course a loss because of a game-ending interception.
Fields don’t scare anyone as a field general. He will be going against a Clemson football defense that is finally healthy and ranked 27th overall in passing yards allowed per game in 2020.
Ohio State ranks 104th in passing yards allowed per game (261.3). The rankings of the passing offenses the Buckeyes have faced: 39th, 40th, 72nd, 98th, 102nd, 106th.
— Anna Adams (@AnnaH247) December 26, 2020
Trevor Lawrence
There is no doubt that Trevor Lawrence is the biggest advantage that either team has Friday night in New Orleans. During his career as the Tigers field general, he has faced off against 10 teams ranked in the Top 25 at the time of kickoff.
In those 10 games, Lawrence is 232/354 (65.5%) for 2,954 yards, 20 touchdowns, and just three interceptions. When the lights are the brightest, Lawrence clearly plays his best.
In the four College Football Playoff games that Lawrence has appeared in for Clemson football, he has eight touchdowns and zero interceptions. Ohio State has the 104th best defense against the pass in 2020, my guess is Lawrence continues his dominating performances against elite competition.
Ohio State is talented as is Justin Fields, but Trevor Lawrence is in a class by himself and when his team needs him the most he tends to play his best.
That won’t change Friday night in New Orleans.