High stakes, verbal jabs turning Clemson into heated rival

COLUMBUS — Ohio State didn’t have the chance to play in The Game this year.

Luckily for the Buckeyes, though, they still get to face a rival.

This one isn’t in conference. It wasn’t on the schedule. But when the College Football Playoff committee announced Sunday that Ohio State will meet Clemson in the semifinal for the third time in the last decade, this newfound rivalry in college football is officially heating up in the days leading into the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day.

These teams may not have the long history of rivalry games such as Ohio State- Michigan or Clemson-South Carolina. But the love hasn’t been lost between the Buckeyes and Tigers, even if at least a small level of hollow respect comes first.

“To get back to the playoff and play against Clemson is very, very exciting,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said on a joint zoom call with Clemson coach Dabo Swinney on Sunday after the matchup was announced. “Certainly have an unbelievable amount of respect for Dabo and his program and what they’ve done and how they do it. … Looking forward to the opportunity to play.”

Of course Day and Swinney made sure to praise each other — and the opposing program — when in front of the camera. But it’s obvious that this matchup brings intrigue and a growing history of underground contention.

The rivalry shows up annually on the recruiting trail when these two powers go head-to-head for some of the country’s best players. And it boils back over every time they meet.

The fun began this time around before the Sugar Bowl matchup was even announced, when Swinney made comments about a six-win team earning its way into the College Football Playoff last week. Then Day made the headlines of the matchup when a leaked locker-room video captured the coach proclaiming that the Buckeyes would beat anybody it faced after winning the Big Ten title.

Swinney has kept on talking, and the jabs moved to social media this week with Kevin Wilson returning a little fire on Wednesday. But perhaps the most obvious sign of a growing rivalry came early this week, when Swinney’s Coaches Poll ballot was revealed — and he voted the Buckeyes No. 11, well outside the top four and a full five spots lower than any other voter. Even if he actually believes Ohio State is not deserving of a playoff spot, he’ll have to prove that when it matters.

“Ohio State? Absolutely,” Swinney said when asked if the Buckeyes were a rival. “If we’re playing Ohio State, it’s a playoff, or it was a BCS Bowl back in 2013 in the Orange Bowl. Any time we play Ohio State, it’s probably some type of meaning. We don’t have them on our regular schedule any time in the near future.

“So you know it’s a big, big postseason game when you play those guys.”

The second installment of the College Football Playoff semifinal rivalry came last year, when the Buckeyes dominated the Tigers for the entire first half but couldn’t capitalize when they needed to and were shorthanded due to questionable officiating. This season has been about getting back to that moment and finishing the job this time around — against the same team.

Ohio State, a program not used to losing to its rivals, made sure not to forget what happened last December, which dropped the Buckeyes to 0-4 all-time against Clemson.

“Fresh off of that game, it was right on our minds and something that, when we got back to work in winter workouts, January and February, it was right there for us,” Day said. “Coming out of that game, we didn’t just get over it in one day. It took time.”

It’s taken plenty of time and a wild year. But the Buckeyes are back — right where they want to be: In the playoff with another shot to take down Clemson.

The Buckeyes old rivalry didn’t happen this year. But the new one is back and seemingly better than ever with more than a week before kickoff.

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