The Ohio State Buckeyes, ranked No. 3 in both the CFP and AP rankings heading into Friday’s Sugar Bowl CFP semifinal, took down the Clemson Tigers (No. 2 in both those rankings) 49-28 to advance to the national title game. That marked Ohio State’s first-ever victory over Clemson; they were previously 0-4, including a 29-23 Fiesta Bowl semifinal loss last year. And this win came with a lot of great offensive showings from the Buckeyes, including quarterback Justin Fields completing 22 of 28 passes (78.6 percent) for 385 yards and six touchdowns with one interception. Here are some of Fields’ best TD throws:
6 TOUCHDOWNS FOR JUSTIN FIELDS 🤯 pic.twitter.com/9WecXeo91H
— ESPN (@espn) January 2, 2021
WOW! JUSTIN FIELDS LET IT FLY FOR A 56-YARD TOUCHDOWN 🎯 pic.twitter.com/9z8zy0qEJC
— ESPN (@espn) January 2, 2021
Even more impressively, those throws came after Fields took a hard hit to the side from Clemson linebacker James Skalski in the second quarter. Skalski was ejected for targeting on the play:
James Skalski was called for targeting and ejected after this hit on Justin Fields. pic.twitter.com/0oqTQCTEDi
— ESPN (@espn) January 2, 2021
Fields was down for a while after that, then left the field for a play, but then came back in to throw another touchdown:
Ohio State extends its lead to two scores 👀 #CFBPlayoff pic.twitter.com/J1MZzyDfPq
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 2, 2021
And despite requiring further evaluation and treatment, Fields was able to stay in for the game, and he was key to the Buckeyes’ win. Ohio State had some great receiving performances too, with Chris Olave catching six passes for 132 yards and two touchdowns, Jameson Williams hauling in three catches for 62 yards and a touchdown, Jeremy Ruckert making three catches for 55 yards and two touchdowns, and Luke Farrell adding the last touchdown (one of his two catches for 11 yards). Running back Trey Sermon also had a terrific day, rushing 31 times for 193 yards (6.2 yards per carry) and a touchdown. And the Buckeyes’ defense was terrific as well, holding Clemson star QB Trevor Lawrence to 33 completions on 48 attempts (68.8 percent) for 400 yards with two touchdowns, an interception, and a costly fumble and holding Tigers’ RB Travis Etienne to 32 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.
But Fields was really the key piece here for Ohio State. And he now has his Buckeyes set to face the No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide (31-14 victors over No. 4 Notre Dame in the other semifinal earlier Friday) in the national championship game on Jan. 11. We’ll see what they can do there.
[ESPN; photo from Derick E. Hingle/USA Today Sports]
