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Clemson HC Dabo Swinney previews CFP semifinal rematch with Ohio State
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It’s not too surprising, but we are on our way to another game between Ohio State and Clemson in the College Football Playoff.
Last season, the Tigers eked out a win over the Buckeyes, which seems par for the course for this budding rivalry between Power 5 dynamos. With the matchup now firmly in place, Tiger head coach Dabo Swinney virtually met with the media to discuss his team’s next challenge.
It appears that Swinney also notices the significance of this matchup with Ohio State. These two teams have developed a history of matching up on the big stage.
Dabo Swinney on if he thinks the Buckeyes are a rival to Clemson: "Ohio State? Absolutely. If we're playing Ohio State, it's a playoff or a BCS bowl back in 2013 in the Orange Bowl. Any time we play Ohio State, it's probably some type of meaning."
— Colin Hass-Hill (@chasshill) December 20, 2020
Both Sugar Bowl coaches meeting with the media this afternoon, beginning with Clemson's Dabo Swinney.
On Ohio State: “We all know how talented they are. I have a lot of respect for Ryan Day and Ohio State.” pic.twitter.com/85QUOY6UMX
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) December 20, 2020
One of the big talking points surrounding the CFP this year is the number of games teams have played. The Buckeyes have played just six compared to Clemson’s 11. There seems to be a debate about how more or less games will impact teams.
If Dabo Swinney thinks a team has an edge if they play more or fewer games: "I think the games matter. I think the mental and physical toll of a season, there's nobody out there that would say somebody who's played 11 games versus somebody who's played 6 is better physically."
— Colin Hass-Hill (@chasshill) December 20, 2020
The Tigers come into this game following a rousing performance against Notre Dame in the ACC title game. Clemson avenged its loss to the Irish earlier this season. The Tigers certainly aren’t a group that lacks confidence.
Dabo Swinney said he thinks Clemson played its best football of the season in Saturday's ACC Championship Game against Notre Dame and that Clemson is “the healthiest we've been, by far.”
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) December 20, 2020
Like many things in 2020, the build-up to the CFP is different than in previous years. Usually, teams have three to four weeks to prepare. This time. The timeline is about two weeks. It changes how these teams will prepare compared to previous years.
Dabo Swinney and Ryan Day both saying the timeline between the conference championship games and the College Football Playoff makes this more like having a bye week before a game than traditional preparation between the end of the regular season and the CFP.
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) December 20, 2020
It’s all been different in 2020. The Buckeyes have to hope that their luck against Clemson in the CFP will also be different this year.