No. 3 Clemson is an underdog again.
Once more, the defending national champions have to deal with being labeled second best when they face No. 1 LSU for the College Football Playoff title in New Orleans on Jan. 13.
I mean, you can say were pretty comfortable with it, said linebacker Chad Smith, the defensive MVP of Clemsons 29-23 Fiesta Bowl victory over Ohio State last Saturday night.
Its a role Clemson (14-0; No. 3 CFP) and coach Dabo Swinney 4 1-2 point underdogs by oddsmakers have embraced much of the season.
The Tigers started as the preseason No. 1. Yet, early on, looked ragged on offense and in particular, at quarterback. Last years freshman star Trevor Lawrence had thrown five interceptions his first three games more than the four hed thrown in all his national championship winning debut.
Trevor threw a couple of interceptions and that sort of became the narrative, Swinney said Monday.
The tipping point came in a 21-20 late escape at North Carolina on Sept. 28. Despite the win, the Tigers fell from the top spot and kept sliding they were No. 5 in the first CFP rankings.
The story was more about who we played, Swinney said. Trying to create how bad (the Atlantic Coast Conference is) rather than who we are.
Clemson, however, kept rolling and defeated each of their last eight opponents heading into the Fiesta Bowl by 29 points or more. Lawrence found his game again, too, with 26 touchdowns and just three interceptions in that stretch.
The quarterback laughs off the early criticism, remembering how last January after his bravura championship game many commentators said he should withdraw from school and spend the next two years prepping for the NFL.
Those same ones were telling me all the mistakes I was making this season, Lawrence said.
Clemson may have silenced a few doubters with its Fiesta Bowl victory. After falling behind 16-0 in the opening half, the Tigers rallied for a dramatic, fourth-quarter victory.
Lawrence led a 94-yard, four-play drive that ended with Travis Etiennes 35-yard touchdown catch with 1:49 left to put Clemson ahead for good.
The Tigers ended Ohio States comeback on safety Nolan Turners interception in the end zone in the final seconds.
Swinney said his players shook off adversity to reach their fourth national title game in five seasons.
