Gameday Guide: Clemson vs. Oklahoma TV details, key players and more

Clemson, the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff, faces No. 4 Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl for a spot in the national title game.

▪  WHO: Clemson (13-0, 8-0 ACC) vs. Oklahoma (11-1, 8-1 Big 12)

▪  WHERE: Capital One Orange Bowl, SunLife Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fla.

▪  WHEN: 4 p.m. Thursday

▪  TV: ESPN (Brad Nessler, play-by-play; Todd Blackledge, analysis; Holly Rowe, sideline)

▪  RADIO: WZMJ-FM 93.1 (Don Munson, Rodney Williams, Patrick Sapp), Clemson Radio Network

▪  LINE: Oklahoma by 3.5

▪  SERIES RECORD: Tied 2-2

▪  STREAKS: Clemson has won two in a row, last year’s Russell Athletic Bowl and the 1989 Citrus Bowl.

▪  WHAT’S AT STAKE: A spot in the College Football Playoff title game and keeping alive the dream of Clemson’s first national crown since 1981. Florida State got the ACC’s CFP resumé started by giving up 59 points to Oregon last season, so the conference could use a boost on this stage.

THREE GAME STORYLINES

1. First national playoff for either team. Title game trip on the line. New Year’s Eve showdown in a historic bowl. Two top-five Heisman finishers. Two top-flight defenses. Three high-grade tailbacks. A slew of next-level talent. No, this one won’t lack for hype.

2. All year long, Clemson has boasted arguably the top pass defense in the country, with an army of good or great defensive backs and a devastating pass rush. They’ll meet a high-powered Air Raid attack reinvigorated by a new coordinator (Lincoln Riley) and quarterback (Baker Mayfield). The Sooners have made a living methodically picking teams apart through the air, and the Tigers’ tight coverage excels at forcing three-and-outs.

3. How do the suspensions impact the Tigers? Ammon Lakip has been the kickoff specialist. Tight end Jay Jay McCullough has seen snaps here and there. Wide receiver Deon Cain has been Clemson’s best big-play target, ranking second on the team with 582 yards despite being the fourth-most targeted receiver. He leads the team with an average of 17.1 yards a catch, and replacing his production could be a challenge.

THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH - Clemson

1. Quarterback Deshaun Watson remains the team leader and Heisman finalist that makes things go. He wrapped up the regular season completing 69.5 percent of his passes for 3,512 yards, 30 scores and 11 interceptions (four in the final seven games). His 887 yards and 11 scores helped key the running game, and against a Sooners group as versatile as it is good, he’ll need to be on-point.

2. Cornerback Mackensie Alexander should draw an unenviable assignment. Sterling Shepard is as impressive a receiver as you’ll find in the country. Every time the Sooners throw him the ball, the result is an average of 11.6 yards. Alexander is rarely challenged, but Mayfield said the ball should come his way.

3. Defensive end Shaq Lawson will be part of a team effort across the front seven trying to get to Mayfield and corral the Sooners’ duo in the backfield. Lawson has 22 1/2 tackles for loss and 9 1/2 sacks and has been part of a unit allowing 4.7 yards a play.

THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH - Oklahoma

1. Quarterback Baker Mayfield hasn’t been shy about the mammoth chip on his shoulder, but the two-time walk-on (at Texas Tech and Oklahoma) has made good. Piloting the Sooner attack, he threw for 3,389 yards, 35 touchdowns and five picks, while running for 582 yards (discounting sacks). His mobility could pose issues.

2. Tailback Samaje Perine was the only thing the Oklahoma offense had going for it last year, and while his production has dipped, his effectiveness has not. The sophomore averaged 6.1 yards a carry on the way to 1,291 yards, often sharing the backfield with dynamic redshirt freshman Joe Mixon (749 yards, 6.8 per carry).

3. Linebacker Eric Striker is only fourth on the team in tackles, but he’s got that heart-and-soul-of-the-defense thing fully in hand. He’s made a team-high 7 1/2 sacks, 16 tackles for loss, plus three pass breakups and a pick. He’s mostly a mobile pass rusher, but adds more than enough in run stopping and occasional pass coverage.

FIVE NUMBERS

2: Number of games in which Mayfield has posted a passer rating lower than 145

4.5: Yards per play Oklahoma is allowing to FBS opponents, ninth-best mark in the nation.

34: Years since the Tigers claimed their last national title.

41: Number of total touchdowns Watson has run or thrown for, third-best in Clemson history.

40-6: Score of the Russell Athletic Bowl meeting between the teams last season. Both sides have sworn up and down that each squad is far different from the 2014 editions.

ROSTERS, TEAM STATS

Roster links: Clemson | Oklahoma

Team Stats: Clemson | Oklahoma

This story was originally published December 30, 2015 at 5:21 PM with the headline "Gameday Guide: Clemson vs. Oklahoma TV details, key players and more."