Oklahoma vs. Clemson: Score, Stats & Highlights

Desmond Howard - I think it is going to be a close game, but I am going with the most dynamic player in all of college football playoff right now - Deshaun Watson. Dabbo Swinney has been highly successful since becoming the Clemson head coach in 2008, but winning a national championship will cement his place in school history.

The first semifinal of the 2015 season college football playoff will be #4 Oklahoma playing against #1 Clemson in the Orange Bowl, in a repeat with much higher stakes of a bowl game from last season. Oklahoma is scheduled to play Clemson in the Orange Bowl NCAA college...

Oklahoma WR Sterling Shepard vs. Clemson CB Mackensie Alexander. The Sooners are perhaps the hottest team in the country - averaging 52 points over their last seven games - and eager to show just how far they've come since their last bowl appearance.

"This is a game of performance", Alexander said.

To its credit, Oklahoma's line got better as the season progressed - especially paving the way for running backs Samaje Perine (1,291 yards, 15 TDs) and Joe Mixon (749 yards, 7 TDs), but this is still the matchup that leans in Clemson's favor.

When the teams met in the Russell Athletic Bowl last season, takeaways were the difference, and Clemson won 40-6. The Sooners gave up at least 20 points in eight games, more than 30 a couple of times. Since the Texas loss, Oklahoma has been one of the more well-rounded teams in the country. Coach Corso told us that Oklahoma creates turnovers. He can beat you with his arm (3,512 yards passing, 30 touchdowns), he can beat you with his legs (887 yards rushing, 11 TDs). Clemson suspended three players for violating team rules, including speedy WR Deon Cain, who led the team with an average of 17.1 yards per catch. And then there are those pesky turnovers - Watson has thrown 11 interceptions, and Clemson has lost the ball 25 times, which tied for 107th in the nation.

Clemson has proven they can score and the defense has had great moments during the season, but has given up a few big plays. You know what they said down here - Sun's out, guns out!