Tahj Boyd came into the season as one of the top rated QBs, and upheld that position all season. He was able to complete 67.6% of his passes for 9.3 yards per attempt, while converting 40% of his third down attempts with just a single turnover on third down. However, his fourth quarters were a big departure, when he posted just a 51.5% completion rate, was -1 in touchdowns to interceptions, and averaged just 6.9 yards per attempt. With as many big plays as the Clemson offense had, Boyd should not have had any struggles. Sammy Watkins could be one of the first receivers off the board in April if he declares, averaged 14.6 yards per catch ans totaling 1237 yards with ten touchdowns. He had 22 receptions of at least fifteen yards, and converted 75% of his third down receptions. Martavis Bryant is a receiver that should get more looks, averaging 20.5 yards per catch this season and going eight for nine on his third down catches. The offensive line held up well, allowing just a 9.9% pressure rate, while helping a run game get to 4.1 yards per carry. Roderick McDowell took 177 of the team's carries for 956 yards, which he should be able to hit the thousand yard mark this season. McDowell is especially hot right now, averaging over six yards a carry in November and scoring three touchdowns.
The Ohio State offense is truly run based. Carlos Hyde multiple times this season saved the team, starting with a brilliant performance against Northwestern. Hyde was an electric runner, totaling up 7.7 yards per carry and scoring 14 touchdowns, while averaging 5.1 yards per carry in the redzone. Starting with that Northwestern game, he rushed for at least 110 yards per game, and failed to average more than five yards per carry just once (against Wisconsin). Braxton miller took the next highest carry total as a QB, carrying the ball 153 times for 1033 yards. He also scored ten touchdowns, and was 80% in converting third and short carries. Miller was pretty good through the air as well, averaging 8.1 yards per attempt on his 231 dropbacks. He threw only five interceptions, and converted 40.5% of his third down attempts despite completing only 50% of those passes. The passing game though was never really explosive, averaging just 11.8 yards per catch, ranking 82nd in passing plays over fifteen yards.
Clemson's defense allowed just at 5 yards per play this season, and forced 26 turnovers. Spencer Shuey lead the charge for the Tigers, with 89 tackles, 5.5 of them for loss. The Tigers allowed just 3.7 yards per carry on the ground, and only allowed four teams all season to do better than four yards per attempt. Their 19 touchdowns surrendered is also somewhat misleading, since it was just the pair of teams from Georgia that scored 9 of them. The pass defense was just as solid, allowing only 52.4% of the passes to be completed, while allowing just twelve touchdowns through the air. Bashaud Breeland was the best player in the secondary, leading the team with four interceptions and defending ten passes while totaling 52 tackles.
The Buckeyes defense was exceptionally good against the run, allowing just 3.1 yards per carry. Only eight touchdowns were scored against them on the ground, thanks largely to Ryan Shazier's 16.5 tackles for loss against the run. Shazier amassed seven more sacks while also garnering 135 tackles with four passes defended and four forced fumbles. Noah Spence lead the charge against opposing passers with 7.5 sacks and four more QB hurries. However, Spence is now suspended for an undisclosed rule, so the pass rush could falter a bit. That will certainly make it tougher on Bradley Roby, who defended 13 passes to lead the team's pass defense, with Doran Grant defending 10 more. Their work though wasnt enough as the Buckeyes allowed 60.5% of passes to be completed for seven yards per attempt with 26 touchdowns through the air.
Clemson has been just about as good as everyone expected them to be this season, but they had a pair of huge games where they came out flat and got beaten up badly. Ohio State thoroughly outclassed a down Big Ten, but had a let down themselves in the championship game to lose a shot at the national title. If Tahj Boyd can keep his composure, the Tigers could keep the game within hand. And without the pass rush of Spence, he should be able to. Clemson wins a nail biter.
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