Ohio State football: Buckeyes looking for first win over Clemson in Sugar Bowl

Where: Mercedes-Benz Superdome

TV/Radio: ESPN/1410

Series history: Clemson leads 4-0, including two wins in the College Football Playoff. Clemson (4-0), Alabama (3-1), Stanford (3-2) and USC (13-10-1) are the only schools to have played Ohio State at least four times and have a winning record in the series.

Last game: The Tigers rallied from a 16-0 deficit to win the Fiesta Bowl last season and advance to the CFP Championship game, where they lost to LSU.

Coaches: Ohio State’s Ryan Day is 22-1, including 15–0 in the Big Ten. Clemson’s Dabo Swinney is 140-32 in 13 seasons.

Bowl history: Ohio State has been to the Sugar Bowl five previous times and won it in 1999 24-14 over Texas A&M and 2014 42-35 over Alabama. The Buckeyes also topped Arkansas in New Orleans following the 2010 season, but that game was vacated because of NCAA violations. Counting that game, Ohio State is 25-26 all-time in bowls… Clemson is 25-21 in bowls and 0-2 in the Sugar with losses to LSU in 1958 and Alabama in 2017.

Ohio State notes: Ohio State is in the CFP for the fourth time. The Buckeyes are 2-2 in the event that began with the 2014 season… Ohio State is No. 5 nationally in total offense (529.2 yards allowed per game) and 34th in total defense (358.0)… The Buckeyes are seventh in scoring (42.5 points per game) and 25th in scoring defense (21.0)… Ohio State is the only team in the Power 5 conferences to be averaging at least 250 yards per game on the ground (275.7) and through the air (253.5)… Ohio State ranks 104th nationally in pass defense (261.3 ypg.) while Clemson is seventh in passing offense (343.8)… Garrett Wilson (103.5 yards per game) and Chris Olave (105.6) rank first and third respectively in the Big Ten in receiving, and they are the only set of teammates nationally averaging more than 100 yards receiving per game.

Clemson notes: The Tigers are 10th in the nation in total offense (507.6 ypg.) and sixth in total defense (298.5)… Clemson ranks third in the nation in scoring (44.9 ppg.) and 11th in scoring defense (17.5)… Quarterback Trevor Lawrence is set to make his fifth career CFP start, tying Alabama/Oklahoma Jalen Hurts for the most of any quarterback in the event, and attempt to set the record for most CFP wins by a quarterback… In four career CFP games, Lawrence has completed 83 of 141 passes for 1,167 yards and eight touchdowns with zero interceptions… Clemson has two players from Ohio, and both are starting offensive lineman — tackle Jackson Carman of Fairfield and guard Matt Bockhorst of Cincinnati St. Xavier.

Quoted: Swinney on the CFP: “I think the Playoff’s been good, and I think it’s created a lot of opportunity for, again, these type of games. I didn’t have a problem with the BCS. Even though it was just two teams, I still was OK with that, but this has kind of taken that and made it better. It kind of never ends. Everybody wants more and more and more, but it’s unique. It’s very difficult to get to this point, especially having consistency to be in the conversation. So I think it’s great, and it’s been fun to be a part of those type games. That’s been one of the biggest things in helping us build our program, is going and competing against the best.”

Next game: The winner will play Alabama or Notre Dame in the National Championship Game on Jan. 11 in Miami, Fla.

Prediction: Clemson 31, Ohio State 27