Based on Swinney’s recent comments, his main sticking point with the Buckeyes is the fact that they have played fewer games than the other top teams in the country. The Big Ten’s season started much later than leagues like the ACC and SEC. 

https://sports.yahoo.com/clemson-coach-dabo-swinney-ranks-ohio-state-no-11-on-his-coaches-poll-ballot-155410403.html

 

8 minutes ago, TheDeuce said:

Dabo is the worst. I wouldn't chirp too much about a team only playing 6 games when you played The Citadel. 

He’s the worst for far more reasons than that.

2 minutes ago, Voice of Reason said:

I don't doubt that at all. But I don't think it has any impact other than hype for ratings.

Agreed.

1 hour ago, TheDeuce said:

Ohio State certainly has the weapons on offense to compete with Clemson, but if they have issues in the secondary like JA has said, it will be a long day for the Buckeye defense. 

If OSU plays their best game of the year, this may be a good one. If they don't, I think both semis are relatively boring in the second half. I'll take Clemson 42-27. 

Saves me a post, this is very accurate.  OSU will need to play a flawless game.  I think what scares me the most is Lawrence running the ball.  Hafley last year said he had “everything” covered, except the QB run.  That’s what beat us.

8 minutes ago, John Anthony said:

Saves me a post, this is very accurate.  OSU will need to play a flawless game.  I think what scares me the most is Lawrence running the ball.  Hafley last year said he had “everything” covered, except the QB run.  That’s what beat us.

Came here to post this thought as well. OSU has got to keep Lawrence in the pocket. Just no other way around it. You keep Lawrence in the pocket then we should be able to get pressure on him to slow down those slow developing routes downfield Clemson loves to run and have also been the Achilles heel for Ohio State on defense this season. We’re going to have to play nearly flawless to win this game. But I do think we’re capable of that. Day and Wilson have to put together the perfect game plan on offense. They are going to have to utilize Fields legs deliberately to win this game. Definitely don’t want to just run QB power 20 times a game like we did with JT, but need to mix in 10-12 designed runs with Fields to keep the safeties honest. I honestly don’t know what to expect. 

I think it may just be to feed the narrative that Clemson is living rent free between the ears of OSU nation. OSU has never beaten Clemson and a Clemson interception murdered the reputation of the George Washington of OSU football. That is foreign to a team like OSU and maybe Dabo wants to feed it. He must be pretty confident to pull a stunt like this though. I don't really like it as a Clemson fan. Maybe he just values wins, OSU only has 6 and they aren't anything to write home about. Funny Dabo always gets the hate though. If he down plays Clemson they get him about that, if he's confident they get him about that. He probably doesn't care anymore.

3 minutes ago, GrantNKY said:

Came here to post this thought as well. OSU has got to keep Lawrence in the pocket. Just no other way around it. You keep Lawrence in the pocket then we should be able to get pressure on him to slow down those slow developing routes downfield Clemson loves to run and have also been the Achilles heel for Ohio State on defense this season. We’re going to have to play nearly flawless to win this game. But I do think we’re capable of that. Day and Wilson have to put together the perfect game plan on offense. They are going to have to utilize Fields legs deliberately to win this game. Definitely don’t want to just run QB power 20 times a game like we did with JT, but need to mix in 10-12 designed runs with Fields to keep the safeties honest. I honestly don’t know what to expect. 

Big thing for OSU to stay in the game is to not score too quickly. They can run the ball, we all know that. They need long methodical drives to win. I think you are right about the use of Fields, and about the slow developing plays by Lawrence. It should be a fun one, I don't think it will be a blowout at all. OSU is better than their resume looks.

3 minutes ago, El Diablo said:

Big thing for OSU to stay in the game is to not score too quickly. They can run the ball, we all know that. They need long methodical drives to win. I think you are right about the use of Fields, and about the slow developing plays by Lawrence. It should be a fun one, I don't think it will be a blowout at all. OSU is better than their resume looks.

That’s a good point about methodical drives. OSU in the first quarter last week went on an insanely long drive that chewed up 8 minutes of the clock. I’m not sure what the over/under is set at but I’ll say this: if the under hits, Ohio State wins. If the over hits Clemson wins. I’m excited but also nervous as hell not going to lie. Last year I was really confident we would win. 2016 I was confident because Clemson hadn’t really become the power that they are now. I honestly haven’t felt this way about a game since the Sugar Bowl against Bama. My heart wants to tell me that it’s a good feeling because of how it worked out the last time I felt this way. My brain sounds like Lee Corso yelling not so fast. 

Just now, GrantNKY said:

That’s a good point about methodical drives. OSU in the first quarter last week went on an insanely long drive that chewed up 8 minutes of the clock. I’m not sure what the over/under is set at but I’ll say this: if the under hits, Ohio State wins. If the over hits Clemson wins. I’m excited but also nervous as hell not going to lie. Last year I was really confident we would win. 2016 I was confident because Clemson hadn’t really become the power that they are now. I honestly haven’t felt this way about a game since the Sugar Bowl against Bama. My heart wants to tell me that it’s a good feeling because of how it worked out the last time I felt this way. My brain sounds like Lee Corso yelling not so fast. 

I'm not worried about OSU coming up with a good plan, they will. They will be able to run on Clemson's defense. It will come down to adjustments by both defenses I think. Also you are right about the over/under. If I'm Clemson you have to prepare for OSU bringing the house a lot, have some new screens for ETN. Is Olave going to be good to go by gameday?

3 minutes ago, El Diablo said:

I'm not worried about OSU coming up with a good plan, they will. They will be able to run on Clemson's defense. It will come down to adjustments by both defenses I think. Also you are right about the over/under. If I'm Clemson you have to prepare for OSU bringing the house a lot, have some new screens for ETN. Is Olave going to be good to go by gameday?

OSU bringing the house would go against what OSU has done all year and their defensive philosophy in general. Which is why it’s probably a good idea because they would be looks that Clemson hasn’t seen on tape from OSU. As far as Olave, as long as he has no complications from Covid he will be able to play in the game. Knowing the Ohio State insiders, we’ll have no idea if Olave is playing until we see him on the field for warmups. As far as the protocols he’ll be able to play. But you’ve seen it yourself with guys like Xavier Thomas, covid is tricky and can affect everyone differently. Hopefully he’s fine and doesn’t have any symptoms and can start practicing again after Christmas. 

And by the way, as a Clemson fan I believe OSU is without a doubt a top 3 team. 4 to 8 is a pretty good debate. OSU had no control of the games they played. No losses, controlled every game they played, won their conference, passed the eye test. Ridiculous to have Texas A&M or Cincinnati in front of them.

56 minutes ago, El Diablo said:

And by the way, as a Clemson fan I believe OSU is without a doubt a top 3 team. 4 to 8 is a pretty good debate. OSU had no control of the games they played. No losses, controlled every game they played, won their conference, passed the eye test. Ridiculous to have Texas A&M or Cincinnati in front of them.

So you agree Dabo is a little immature trying to get a rise out of people by ranking OSU 11th in his coaches poll vote this week? Haha 

1 minute ago, GrantNKY said:

So you agree Dabo is a little immature trying to get a rise out of people by ranking OSU 11th in his coaches poll vote this week? Haha 

I don't like it. Don't poke the bear. I hope he made his own formula and the amount of wins was the factor that skewed the ranking of OSU? He knows OSU would beat UC 42-21. Maybe he is really trying to get in their heads, I hate giving the opponent fuel for the fire. 

Incredibly stupid giving OSU any motivation.  OSU realizes they have a stiff challenge, but going into a fight thinking you’re gonna have to be perfect, vs. going in flat out you know what, is two different emotions.

I really don't see how Dabo ranking OSU is much different that Day's post game locker room speech that got leaked.  Both can be used as bulletin board material for the opposing team.  I won't post a link due to language, but it's an easy Google search if your so inclined.