For the fifth consecutive season, the Clemson Tigers will pack up and head to play in the College Football Playoff, seeking the program’s third national title in four years.
The Tigers defeated Virginia on Saturday night to capture its fifth straight ACC title, securing its spot in this season’s College Football Playoff. The fifth appearance by Clemson matches Alabama for the most in the playoff era.
Clemson will face a familiar foe in the playoff: The Ohio State Buckeyes. The Tigers and Buckeyes will face off in the Playstation Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona, the second such meeting between the two programs in the playoff era. Clemson defeated Ohio State 31-0 in 2016 when the two teams faced off in the Fiesta Bowl.
This year, the Tigers and Buckeyes will face off from the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds in the playoffs. LSU received the No. 1 seed and Oklahoma received the No. 4 seed. This is the second consecutive season where the playoffs have included three undefeated teams and the first year since 2015 where all four participants have been conference champions.
Clemson is no stranger to the College Football Playoff. The Tigers have appeared in the last five playoffs, playing in the National Championship Game in four of those appearances and claiming the title two of the last three seasons. Clemson will have the advantage over any team it plays when it comes to playoff experience. While this marks the fifth appearance for Clemson, it marks the fourth appearance for Oklahoma, third appearance for Ohio State, and first appearance for LSU.
Clemson and Ohio State will face each other in the Playstation Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona. The game will be played on Dec. 28 at 8 p.m. on ESPN.