Clemson football: Three matchup’s that will determine the Sugar Bowl winner

Clemson football will face Ohio State for the fourth time in seven years.

There has been very little talk about the actual game taking place between Clemson football and Ohio State on Friday. Nearly everything that is written or talked about has to do with Dabo Swinney and the very honest reason that he voted Ohio State 11th in his Coaches Poll.

As we know drama sells and that is all the sports networks are interested in right now.

However, an actual game will be played between Clemson and Ohio State and neither of the coaches or the media will be in pads and helmets when this game kicks-off.

Coming into this game, one thing should be very clear to people – this was a rebuilding year for both programs. Both teams lost a ton of talent and production from this time last season. Everyone forgets this because both teams brought back their All-American quarterbacks, but it’s something that should be talked about.

When you look at lost production from a year ago, Ohio State brought back just 56 percent of their production from a year ago and when you break it down by offense and defense it looks a little different.

The buck-nuts brought back 65 percent of its offensive production from a year ago – a lot of that was quarterback Justin Fields and wide receiver Chris Olave, while they brought back just 47 percent of their defensive production from a year ago.

Gone are Top 5 picks defensive end Chase Young and corner Jeffrey Okuda. Overall, 92 of the 130 teams in FBS football returned more production than Ohio State.

For Clemson football, it was even worse.

Clemson football brought back just 55 percent of their production from a year ago (that number was BEFORE Justyn Ross was announced out for the year). Offensively, the Tigers were expected to return 60 percent of their offense and just 51 percent of their defensive production.

Overall, 95 of the 130 teams in FBS football returned more production than Clemson football.

Both teams combined to have 16 players drafted in the 2020 NFL draft.

Despite all of that loss, both teams played well enough to get back to the College Football Playoff and the winner will give Alabama or Notre Dame all it can handle in Miami. That said, there are three matchups that will decide the winner of the 2021 Sugar Bowl and the right to head to Miami to play for another national championship.