Clemson vs. Ohio State: Date, time, TV channel for College Football Playoff semifinal
How to watch Clemson vs. Ohio State
They meet again. Clemson and Ohio State are playing each other for the third time in a College Football Playoff semifinal. Here's how you can watch:
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
- Date: Friday, Jan. 1, 2021
- TV channel: ESPN
- Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana (Sugar Bowl)
Click or tap here for a complete list of TV info for the CFP and bowl games
Clemson vs. Ohio State: Preview
Hello. Again.
For the second season in a row — and third time since 2016 — Clemson and Ohio State meet in a College Football Playoff semifinal.
Clemson is 10-1 and moved up to No. 2 in the final CFP rankings after crushing then-No. 2 Notre Dame 34-10 to avenge its only loss and win the ACC. Star QB Trevor Lawrence, who missed the first Notre Dame game, came through with 322 passing yards, two touchdowns and 90 rushing yards with another score. RB Travis Etienne led the rushing attack with 124 yards and receiver Amari Rodgers had eight catches for 121 yards.
Ohio State is unbeaten but has played only six games — barely more than half Clemson's total. But the Buckeyes are yet again the Big Ten champs after pulling away from Northwestern, 22-10. RB Trey Sermon led the charge with a school-record 331 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
In the first two CFP semifinal meetings, Clemson came away with wins, though last season's game was a thriller. However, with the way the Tigers dominated Notre Dame, Lawrence and his teammates probably expect to get their third consecutive CFP title game appearance.
Clemson vs. Ohio State: Series history, results
Clemson leads the series 4-0 all-time, with three of the matchups coming since the 2013 season.
| DATE | WINNER | SCORE | LOSER | LOCATION |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec. 29, 1978 | No. 7 Clemson | 17-15 | No. 20 Ohio State | Gator Bowl |
| Jan. 3, 2014 | No. 12 Clemson | 40-35 | No. 7 Ohio State | Orange Bowl |
| Dec. 31, 2016 | No. 2 Clemson | 31-0 | No. 3 Ohio State | Fiesta Bowl — CFP semifinal |
| Dec. 28, 2019 | No. 3 Clemson | 29-23 | No. 2 Ohio State | Fiesta Bowl — CFP semifinal |
College Football Playoff history
Here's how the previous College Football Playoffs have gone:
College Football Playoff results
2014 season
- Rose Bowl: No. 2 Oregon 59, No. 3 Florida State 20
- Sugar Bowl: No. 4 Ohio State 42, No. 1 Alabama 35
- CFP National Championship Game: No. 4 Ohio State 42, No. 2 Oregon 20
2015 season
- Orange Bowl: No. 1 Clemson 37, No. 4 Oklahoma 17
- Cotton Bowl: No. 2 Alabama 38, No. 3 Michigan State 0
- CFP National Championship Game: No. 2 Alabama 45, No. 1 Clemson 40
2016 season
- Fiesta Bowl: No. 2 Clemson 31, No. 3 Ohio State 0
- Peach Bowl: No. 1 Alabama 24, No. 4 Washington 7
- CFP National Championship Game: No. 2 Clemson 35, No. 1 Alabama 31
RANKINGS: All major college football polls
2017 season
- Rose Bowl: No. 3 Georgia 54, No. 2 Oklahoma 48 (2OT)
- Sugar Bowl: No. 4 Alabama 24, No. 1 Clemson 6
- CFP National Championship Game: No. 4 Alabama 26, No. 3 Georgia 23 (OT)
2018 season
- Orange Bowl: No. 1 Alabama 45, No. 4 Oklahoma 34
- Cotton Bowl: No. 2 Clemson 30, No. 3 Notre Dame 3
- CFP National Championship Game: No. 2 Clemson 44, No. 1 Alabama 16
2019 season
- Peach Bowl: No. 1 LSU 63, No. 4 Oklahoma 28
- Fiesta Bowl: No. 3 Clemson 29, No. 2 Ohio State 23
- CFP National Championship Game: No. 1 LSU 42, No. 3 Clemson 25