Playoff: Why Ohio State will beat Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl

PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz. — The moment we understood Ohio State’s immense potential came early, on the season’s third weekend. When the Buckeyes boarded the plane for a flight to Norman, Okla., 30 players on a 74-man travel squad were either redshirt or true freshmen.

It was, Urban Meyer said, “alarming, a bunch of guys going on the road (for the first time).”

But after a 45-24 rout of Oklahoma, the alarm bells began to sound around college football. Never mind all of those guys lost to the NFL Draft (12, all in the first four rounds). Or that only six starters returned. The Buckeyes clearly had the talent to contend, again, for the College Football Playoff.

The only thing that has changed since then is that those youngsters have grown up.

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It’s a cliché, but Ohio State has every chance to win the Fiesta Bowl against Clemson because Meyer didn’t so much rebuild as reload, adding uber-talented players to a small but vital leadership nucleus. The result: A very potent mix of talent and motivation that very much resembles the Buckeyes of two years ago – when, you might recall, they won the national championship.

“People saying we were a young team, we never really bought into that,” sophomore safety Malik Hooker said.

Ohio State’s ball-hawking defense scored seven touchdowns, second only to Alabama. At least as important, it stuffed opponents’ running games, and played best in the biggest teams (see Michigan, which averaged more than 200 rushing yards but managed 91). With junior quarterback J.T. Barrett leading the way – and with versatile receiver Curtis Samuel and freshman running back Mike Weber supplying plenty of highlights, Ohio State averaged 480 yards and 40.2 points.

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That performance against Oklahoma wasn’t always replicable. But along the way, the Buckeyes have been hardened by adversity. There was the loss at Penn State. There were huge, mettle-testing (or maybe mettle-melding) victories over Top 10 opponents Wisconsin and Michigan. The narrow escape in an instant, double-overtime classic against the Wolverines came complete with enough gut-wrenching moments – did Barrett get the first down? – to fill a season or two.

“It takes a few years off your life expectancy,” Ohio State offensive coordinator Ed Warinner said. “It’s good. You grow from that. You gain confidence that in critical situations your players can make plays.”

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It’s possible the Buckeyes could be a year away from being well, spectacular. But they won in 2014 with a roster filled with similar talent that emerged a year ahead of schedule – and unburdened by the weight of expectations that accompanied them the next season.

“Half our team’s never been to a bowl game,” Meyer reminded everyone.

But that might not be such a bad thing. All together, the formula allows a fast, physical bunch to play free. It’s why Ohio State has every shot to win the Fiesta Bowl – and maybe more.