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Clemson vs. Ohio State

Clemson and Ohio State have 5 meetings on file, the first in 1978; Clemson leads the series 4–⁠1 in the games on file. Over the last 5 meetings it’s Clemson 4–⁠1.

Clemson wins
4
Ohio State wins
1
Ties
0
Earliest on file
1978
Longest streak
4 Clemson
Current streak
1 Ohio State
Last 10 meetings
Clemson 4–⁠1
Most recent
2020

The series at a glance

’0’1’2’3’4’5’6’7’8’9W–L
1970s1–⁠0
2010s3–⁠0
2020s0–⁠1
Both ranked
5 meetings: Clemson 4, Ohio State 1; 3 both in the top 10
Average margin
13 points; 3 decided by one score (8 or fewer)
Neutral sites
4–⁠1 Clemson first
Shutouts
1

Every meeting on file, as played. Ranks are the AP poll’s going in.

Games that tell the story

  1. Clemson’s biggest win2016: Clemson 31, Ohio State 0by 31 points
  2. Ohio State’s biggest win2020: Ohio State 49, Clemson 28by 21 points
  3. Ranked showdown2019: Clemson 29, Ohio State 23No. 3 Clemson at No. 2 Ohio State
  4. Ranked showdown2016: Clemson 31, Ohio State 0No. 2 Ohio State at No. 3 Clemson
  5. Ranked showdown2020: Ohio State 49, Clemson 28No. 3 Ohio State at No. 4 Clemson
  6. Ranked showdown2013: Clemson 40, Ohio State 35No. 12 Clemson at No. 7 Ohio State

Both programs through the years

End-of-season Elo ratings of Clemson and Ohio State, 1978 on130015001700190019801990200020102020

Our Elo rating at the end of each season, a measure of how strong a team was, not a forecast; 1500 is an average FBS team.

Stars of the series

Biggest days

Justin Fields Ohio State22 of 28, 385 yards, 6 TD, 1 INT2020 Passing
Sammy Watkins Clemson16 catches, 227 yards, 2 TD2013 Receiving
Trey Sermon Ohio State31 carries, 193 yards, 1 TD2020 Rushing

Named most valuable

Justin Fields Ohio State2020
Trevor Lawrence Clemson2019
Chad Smith Clemson2019
Sammy Watkins Clemson2013
Steve Fuller Clemson1978
Art Schlichter Ohio State1978

Biggest days: the week’s best individual games by our big-days rule, from box scores (2004 on). Most valuable: as the games’ Wikipedia articles name them (CC BY-SA).

On television

ESPN’s College GameDay has broadcast from this game three times: 2020, 2019, 2016.

College GameDay’s sites from Wikipedia’s list of its locations (CC BY-SA).

Photos

  • Clemson Offense preparing a snap in the 2nd half of the December 2019 Fiesta Bowl. Photo taken from the south end of the stadium.
    Clemson Offense preparing a snap in the 2nd half of the December 2019 Fiesta Bowl. Photo taken from the south end of the stadium.Photo: Blervis, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
    The 2019 game
  • The Ohio State University Marching Band Performing before the December 2019 Fiesta Bowl.
    The Ohio State University Marching Band Performing before the December 2019 Fiesta Bowl.Photo: Blervis, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
    The 2019 game
  • State Farm Stadium before the 2019 Fiesta Bowl. Photograph taken from the Clemson (south) end of the stadium on December 28, 2019.
    State Farm Stadium before the 2019 Fiesta Bowl. Photograph taken from the Clemson (south) end of the stadium on December 28, 2019.Photo: Blervis, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
    The 2019 game
  • JK Dobbins Celebrating a first quarter touchdown at the December 2019 Fiesta Bowl. Photo taken from the south end of the stadium.
    JK Dobbins Celebrating a first quarter touchdown at the December 2019 Fiesta Bowl. Photo taken from the south end of the stadium.Photo: Blervis, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
    The 2019 game

From the rivalry’s and its games’ categories on Wikimedia Commons (free licenses only, each credited).

Every game

Jan 1, 20213Ohio State 49, 4Clemson 28Caesars SuperdomeSugar Bowl, CFP Semifinal
Dec 28, 20193Clemson 29, 2Ohio State 23State Farm StadiumFiesta Bowl, CFP Semifinal
Dec 31, 20163Clemson 31, 2Ohio State 0State Farm StadiumFiesta Bowl
Jan 3, 201412Clemson 40, 7Ohio State 35Hard Rock StadiumOrange Bowl
Dec 29, 19787Clemson 17, 20Ohio State 15Neutral siteGator Bowl

Every game is listed as played on the field.