Clemson Tigers
If you think Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney's Tigers are content with the top seed in this year's College Football Playoff, think again. Despite Clemson’s No. 1 ranking, the Tigers will enter Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. as the underdog to the 4th-ranked Sooners. With most of the hype surrounding Oklahoma, which in some circles has portrayed the Sooners as possibly this year's Ohio State Buckeyes (won National Championship last season), the Tigers should be fueled to earn the respect they inexplicably have yet to garner from naysayers.
Oklahoma Sooners
There will be no shortage of motivation for the Sooners, led by former walk-on quarterback Baker Mayfield. Mayfield walked on at Texas Tech and won the starting job as a true freshman. After transferring and walking on at Oklahoma, Mayfield beat out 2014 Sugar Bowl MVP Trevor Knight, who had just defeated the third-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide in that Sugar Bowl. In order to punch their ticket to the College Football Playoff National Championship in Glendale, Ariz. on Jan. 11, the Sooners will look to harness the emotion and …show more content…
A season ago, a number of NFL prospects led Clemson’s defense, most notably current Atlanta Falcons defensive end Vic Beasley. Last year, much of the Tigers defense was composed of fourth and fifth year seniors. Coming into this season, most predicted the Tigers’ inexperienced defense to be the team’s downfall. However, according to NCAA.com, Clemson finished second in the FBS this season in opponent third down conversion rate at 24.8 percent. Getting off the field on third down will be vital for the Tigers defense, not only to give Clemson’s offense as many possessions as possible, but to slow down the Sooners’ two-headed monster at the running back position, Samaje Perine and Joe
If you think Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney's Tigers are content with the top seed in this year's College Football Playoff, think again. Despite Clemson’s No. 1 ranking, the Tigers will enter Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. as the underdog to the 4th-ranked Sooners. With most of the hype surrounding Oklahoma, which in some circles has portrayed the Sooners as possibly this year's Ohio State Buckeyes (won National Championship last season), the Tigers should be fueled to earn the respect they inexplicably have yet to garner from naysayers.
Oklahoma Sooners
There will be no shortage of motivation for the Sooners, led by former walk-on quarterback Baker Mayfield. Mayfield walked on at Texas Tech and won the starting job as a true freshman. After transferring and walking on at Oklahoma, Mayfield beat out 2014 Sugar Bowl MVP Trevor Knight, who had just defeated the third-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide in that Sugar Bowl. In order to punch their ticket to the College Football Playoff National Championship in Glendale, Ariz. on Jan. 11, the Sooners will look to harness the emotion and …show more content…
A season ago, a number of NFL prospects led Clemson’s defense, most notably current Atlanta Falcons defensive end Vic Beasley. Last year, much of the Tigers defense was composed of fourth and fifth year seniors. Coming into this season, most predicted the Tigers’ inexperienced defense to be the team’s downfall. However, according to NCAA.com, Clemson finished second in the FBS this season in opponent third down conversion rate at 24.8 percent. Getting off the field on third down will be vital for the Tigers defense, not only to give Clemson’s offense as many possessions as possible, but to slow down the Sooners’ two-headed monster at the running back position, Samaje Perine and Joe