Arizona’s Own Fiesta Bowl Features Two of the Best Teams in the Country

By administrator1 December 26, 2016 05:00

By Francisco Romero. – On New Year’s Eve 2016 the eyes of college football will once again focus on the Valley of the Sun, as the No. 3 Ohio State University (11-1) will face the No. 2 Clemson (12-1) for a College Football Playoff semifinal matchup.

The winner of the Fiesta Bowl will face the winner of the Peach Bowl that will feature No. 4 Washington versus No. 1 Alabama for the right to play for the National Championship game.

The national championship game will take place on Monday, January 9, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

The Fiesta Bowl will be a marquee match-up, as two elite programs will go against each other; Ohio State averages 480 yards per game, along with 42.7 points. Clemson Has one of the best quarterbacks in the country in Deshaun Watson, the Tigers average 332.6 passing yards per contest.

When it comes to defense both teams are very similar; Ohio State allows a mere 282 total yards per game, while the Tigers of Clemson allow only 18.4 points per game.

Ohio State’s quarterback J.T. Barrett finished the season with 2,428 passing yards and 24 touchdowns, while only being intercepted on five occasions.

Clemson’s quarterback Watson has thrown for a school record 37 touchdown passes and 43 total touchdowns this season, including rushing scores. He holds 52 Clemson records and has a 30-3 record as the starting quarterback over the last three years.

“We’re here for a reason. We’re here to enjoy the sunshine and desert but most importantly to put on a good performance against a great football team in Clemson,” said Ohio State’s head coach Urban Meyer during a press conference upon the team’s arrival in Phoenix.

“I have a great deal of respect for coach Meyer,” said Dabo Swinney, Clemson’s head coach. “We know this will be a very difficult matchup. You don’t get to be in the final four unless you’re a team that’s capable of winning it all.”

The Fiesta Bowl will take place at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 31^st at 5:00 pm MST.