#2 Ohio State Buckeyes (13-0) vs #3 Clemson Tigers (13-0)
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Coach: Ryan Day
Ohio State Players to watch:
Senior OG Jonah Jackson (6-4/305)
Jackson joined the Ohio State football program in the summer of 2019 as a graduate transfer following a four-year career at Rutgers. As a team captain at Rutgers, Ohio State was very familiar with this Big Ten East Division foe. “He was one of the better guys they’ve gone against within the league,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said of his players’ feedback on Jackson. “As an interior guy he was strong and powerful in the run game and did a good job in pass protection.” Jackson didn’t disappoint Day, he went on to become a first team Big Ten coaches’ All-American with OSU.
**Sophomore OG Wyatt Davis (6-4/315)
Another key to opening holes for RB J.K. Dobbins has been sophomore sensation Wyatt Davis. Davis, who is in his first full year as a starter along the Buckeyes’ offensive line, has been named a Walter Camp first-team All-American. A native of Bellflower, Calif., Davis was also named a first-team All-Big Ten selection. His play has helped Ohio State produce the nation’s fifth-ranked rushing offense (272.2 yards/game) and No. 1 scoring offense (48.7 points/game).
Senior OT Branden Bowen (6-7/312)
In 2017, Bowen had won the job as OSU’s starting right guard. Then he broke the tibia and fibula in his right leg. He underwent a surgery to repair the breaks, then another one a few months later to remove some screws. In 2019, Ohio State’s fifth-year senior offensive lineman, won the right tackle job. He and fellow tackle, Thayer Munford, were each named second team coaches’ All-Big Ten this year.
Senior LB Malik Harrison (6-3/240)
Harrison is the Buckeyes’ leading tackler with 63 total stops (40 solo) to go along with 16.0 tackles-for-loss and 4.5 sacks. All three members of Ohio State’s secondary made an All-Big Ten team as the unit is currently ranked second nationally, allowing just 141.1 passing yards per game. Harrison has been invited to participate in the Senior Bowl.
Senior FS Jordan Fuller (6-2/207)
Fuller is currently third on the team with 57 total tackles. He tied for the team lead in tackles last season with 81 and he was the second-leading tackler in 2017. Fuller, a team captain as a junior, has started 26 games for the back-to-back Big Ten Conference champions. Fuller as also excelled acadmically, he earned first-team Academic All-American honors in 2018; Big Ten Conference Distinguished Scholar and multiple academic all-Big Ten and OSU Scholar-Athlete awards.
Senior LS Liam McCullough (6-2/237)
As national recognition continues to roll in for the Buckeyes, Liam McCullough, a senior from Worthington, who has already graduated with a degree in finance, was one of three finalist for the Patrick Mannelly Award. The awards honors the nation’s top long snapper.
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Coach: Dabo Swinney
Clemson Players to watch:
Senior RT Tremayne Anchrum (6-2/310)
Photo: Bart Boatwright|The Clemson Insider
Anchrum has started 28 games over the last two seasons. First-team All-ACC selection and has been invited to play at the Senior Bowl on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020. This season, Anchrum was on the field for 704 snaps over 13 games (all starts) prior to the Peach Bowl. He became the full-time starter at right tackle in 2018 and enters the 2019 bowl season having played 2,378 snaps over 53 games (35 starts) in his career.
Senior OG Gage Cervenka (6-3/325)
Cervenka redshirted as a defensive tackle before switching to offensive line in August 2016. He served as the backup center during the entire 2017 season before earning a starting role at guard in 2018. Cervenka enters the 2019 bowl season having played 1,346 snaps over 44 career games (21 starts). He is known as one of the strongest members of the team, setting the program position record for bench press reps at 225 pounds (44). In the 2019 offseason, he received a 99 rating in ESPN’s PlayStation Player Impact rating for the 2018 season, the highest in the nation.
Senior OC Sean Pollard (6-5/315)
In 2016, Pollard shared offensive Rookie of the Year honors with fellow tackle Tremayne Anchrum. In 2019, Pollard volunteered to fill a need at center when Justin Falcinelli graduated after last season. Pollard has logged his career snaps at guard and tackle, but he elected to move to center to allow Gage Cervenka to remain the starter at right guard, where he started ahead of Pollard for the final seven games last season. Entering the bowl game, Pollard has played 2,190 snaps over 53 games (36 starts) in his career.
*Junior CB A.J. Terrell (6-2/190)
Terrell enters the Peach Bowl credited with 94 career tackles (3.5 for loss), 17 pass breakups, six interceptions (returned for a total of 160 yards including a 44-yard touchdown) and two forced fumbles over 1,654 snaps in 42 games (28 starts). Terrell started all 15 games in his first year as a starter in 2018, scoring the first points of the College Football Playoff National Championship on a pick-six. He’ll be looking for another against Ohio State.
Senior FS Tanner Muse (6-1/230)
Muse is a veteran safety who enters the 2019 bowl season with 229 career tackles (9.5 for loss), 15 passes broken up, 4.0 sacks, seven interceptions for 102 yards (including a 64-yard return for a touchdown), a forced fumble and a 63-yard fumble return for a touchdown in 1,748 snaps over 57 career games (37 starts).
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Fiesta Bowl (College Football Playoff semifinal)
Clemson 29, Ohio State 23
State Farm Stadium
Glendale, Arizona
Dec 28, 2019 | 8 p.m. | ESPN
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PlayStation Fiesta Bowl (Jan 1, 2019)
LSU 40, UCF 32
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Nat L. Faybian's College Football Focus 
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