GLENDALE, AZ – Two of College Football's heavyweights went head-to-head in the most-watched College Football Playoff Semifinal not played on New Year's Day. 21.2 million viewers witnessed No. 2 Ohio State and No. 3 Clemson face off in one of the most entertaining and exciting games of the bowl season in the PlayStation® Fiesta Bowl.
 
Making their second trip to the PlayStation® Fiesta Bowl, the Tigers rallied back from a 16-14 deficit in the first half to top the Buckeyes, 29-23, on Dec. 28, 2019 at State Farm Stadium. Clemson's victory marked the first team to come back from the half to win the Fiesta Bowl since 1997 when Penn State trailed 12-7 at halftime vs. Texas to win, 38-15.
 
"Well, that had to be a great game to watch. I'll tell you, unbelievable performance. What a night. What a journey for our team. Unbelievable decade that we just finished up," said Clemson Head Coach Dabo Swinney. "And just really proud of our guys. Proud of these seniors. Got their 55th win tonight. That ties a college football record. The resiliency, the will to win, the heart, the character, just special. Just really proud."
 
Off to a fast start, Ohio State shut out Clemson in the first quarter 10-0 including a 68-yard rushing touchdown from junior running back J.K. Dobbins. The LaGrange, Texas native broke the program's single-season rushing record with 1,998 yards, previously held by Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George (1,927 yards) during the 1995 season.
 
With 2:45 left in the second quarter, junior running back Travis Etienne got Clemson on the board with an 8-yard rushing touchdown. Sophomore quarterback Trevor Lawrence showed his dual-threat ability, running for a 67-yard touchdown to close in on Ohio State at halftime, 16-14.
 
"I just wanted to do whatever I can to help us win, and me running the ball this season has been important in some games to help us win," said Lawrence. "The field was wide-open and just credit to the guys up front just being patient, making those lanes for me, and then just making plays."
 
Lawrence continued to lead the offensive charge for Clemson to open the second half, hitting Etienne on a 53-yard touchdown pass to take its first lead of the game, 21-16.
 
However, the Buckeyes wouldn't back down, taking back the lead 23-21, with a 23-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Justin Fields to wide receiver Chris Olave. Fields threw for a career-best 320 yards and finished the season with the program's third best passing yards in a single season, surpassing J.T. Barrett (2017) and Bobby Hoying (1995).
 
At 1:49 remaining, Lawrence found Etienne for a 34-yard touchdown (third of the day) to reclaim the lead, 29-23. With 43 seconds left in the game, junior safety Nolan Turner became the unsung hero with a game sealing interception to send the Tigers to their fifth College Football Playoff National Championship.
 
"So proud of him [Nolan Turner], man. I love him like a son, and obviously great friends and teammates
with his dad [Kevin]," said Swinney. "The one thing I told him: You gotta keep your head up. You're going to make a winning interception and just have to go to the next play. So it was just pretty amazing to watch it all play out."
 
The victory also extended Clemson's nation's-best 29-game winning streak, matching the ACC record set by Florida State from 2012-14.
 
"I just know when two great teams get together, it comes down to a few plays, and it did again
tonight," said Ohio State Head Coach Ryan Day. "Clemson, give them credit. They have a really good team, and the defending national champs. [Trevor] Lawrence came down and had a great drive at the end of the game, and they did a good job on defense."
 
Lawrence led the Tigers to one of the biggest comebacks in Fiesta Bowl history by going 18 of 33 for 259 yards and three touchdowns (including one rushing) on his way to become the PlayStation® Fiesta Bowl Offensive Player of the Game. Lawrence's 33 passing attempts also broke the program's record of consecutive pass attempts without any interceptions with 215.
 
"Trevor [Lawrence] kind of took over the huddle, to be quite honest with you. He called the guys up, and he just said, 'Hey, man, I love all of you guys. Let's go win this thing.' It was just a real poise," noted Swinney. "There was never one second that I did not think we were not going to win the game. That's the honest answer."
 
In addition to Lawrence, fifth-year senior linebacker Chad Smith won the PlayStation® Fiesta Bowl Defensive Player of the Game with season-highs in total tackles (12) and solo tackles (eight).
 
"It is pretty unbelievable. Kind of got to pinch myself. To be able to have a night like this tonight, it is pretty surreal," said Smith. "Credit to the other ten guys, the coaching staff, the offense, special teams. I mean, I may have gotten an individual award, but it really was a team award. I wouldn't have been able to make those plays without my teammates."
 
"Just really appreciate the opportunity to be here. We're going to celebrate this one, and then give these guys a couple of days off," noted Swinney. "Then we're going to get focused on trying to find a way to win one more. It's going to be a heck of a task, but we're thankful that we got the opportunity. Just so proud of our team for their heart and their fight to win the game [PlayStation® Fiesta Bowl]."
 
ABOUT FIESTA BOWL
The Fiesta Bowl's vision is to be a world-class community organization that executes innovative experiences, drives economic growth and champions charitable causes, inspiring pride in all Arizonans. As a nonprofit organization, it believes in the importance of community outreach and service. Through charitable giving, the organization strives to enhance Arizona nonprofit organizations that contribute to the success of communities through youth, sports and education. Since 1971, Fiesta Bowl Charities has worked to increase its footprint across the state and to benefit Arizonans year round, during and outside of bowl season. For more information about its local impact and how to get involved, visit FiestaBowl.org or follow the organization (@Fiesta_Bowl) on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
 
ABOUT THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF
The College Football Playoff matches the No. 1 seed vs. No. 4, and No. 2 vs. No. 3 in semifinal games that rotate annually among six bowl games – the Goodyear Cotton Bowl, PlayStation Fiesta Bowl, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Capital One Orange Bowl, Allstate Sugar Bowl and Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual. This season's Playoff Semifinals will take place Saturday, December 28, 2018, at the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl and Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. The College Football Playoff National Championship will be Monday, January 13, 2020, at Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. For more information, visit CollegeFootballPlayoff.org or follow the organization (CFBPlayoff) on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.