The 2021 Allstate Sugar Bowl features the 10-1 Clemson Tigers against the 6-0 Ohio State Buckeyes. Here is the 2021 Allstate Sugar Bowl Preview.
Clemson lost to Notre Dame in the regular season, without Trevor Lawrence, but ended up beating them in the ACC Championship to help them qualify for the CFP. They have defeated six teams with a .500 record or above.
The Tigers have had a high-powered offense that scores 44.9 points per game, which ranks third in the country. They pass for 343.8 yards (ranked seventh) and rush for 163.8 yards per game (64th).
Trevor Lawrence (photo via live5news.com)
Trevor Lawrence has been a very talented quarterback for the Tigers for the last three years. This season, he has passed for 2,753 yards, 22 touchdowns and four interceptions on 69.2 percent completion. Lawrence has seven players with over 200 receiving yards. Amari Rodgers leads the team with 69 receptions for 966 yards and seven touchdowns. Cornell Powell and Travis Etienne have been solid targets as well with 743 and 524 receiving yards respectively.
Etienne is the team’s leading rusher as well. He has 882 rushing yards and 13 scores on the ground. Lawrence is the team’s second-leading rusher with 211 yards and seven touchdowns. Lyn-J Dixon, Chez Mellusi and Darien Rencher all have over 100 rushing yards this season.
The Tigers gave up 17.5 points per game this season, making them a solid unit. They allow 198.6 passing yards (ranked 27th) and 99.8 rushing yards per game (ranked ninth). Linebacker Baylon Spector leads the team with 61 total tackles. He and defensive lineman K.J. Henry lead the team with 3.5 sacks. Safety Nolan Turner leads the team with three interceptions.
Ohio State only played six games, but they won the Big Ten Championship and made the CFP. They beat two teams with a .500 record or above in Indiana and Northwestern.
The offense scores 42.5 points per game, which ranks seventh in the country. They pass for 235.5 yards (ranked 42nd) and rush for 275.7 yards per game (ranked fifth).
Justin Fields (Photo via cleveland.com)
Justin Fields has been a star at quarterback for the Buckeyes, but has struggled protecting the football in the big games. He has 1,521 passing yards, 15 touchdowns and five interceptions on 72.6 percent completion this year. The Buckeyes have two receivers with over 500 receiving yards. Garrett Wilson leads the team with 38 receptions for 621 yards and five touchdowns. Chris Olave is right behind him with 36 receptions for 528 yards and five touchdowns.
Three rushers have over 200 yards on the ground this season for the Buckeyes. Trey Sermon has rushed for 675 yards and three touchdowns. Master Teague has rushed 449 yards and six touchdowns. Fields is third on the team with 274 rushing yards and five touchdowns.
The Buckeyes allow 21 points per game, but they have been up and down this year. They allow 96.7 rushing yards (ranked seventh) and 261.9 passing yards per game (ranked 104th). Linebacker Pete Werner leads the team with 37 tackles. Defensive linemen Tommy Togiai and Jonathan Cooper lead the team with 3 and 2.5 sacks respectively. Cornerback Shaun Wade has the team-lead with two interceptions and has added three passes defended.
Ohio State has a weakness defending the pass. Not many teams could take advantage during their regular season schedule, but Clemson will be able to. Trevor Lawrence will have a big day and will lead the Tigers to victory.
Clemson Tigers 39 Ohio State Buckeyes 29
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