The Playoff is Set

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Get him Chase!! Well, we’re in! I must say I was a little worried after every human on television was shit-talking the Bucks yesterday.

Alabama is the 1-seed and Clemson is 2. On Saturday, Clemson smoked Notre Dame while Alabama had a barnburner against Florida. It’s a good thing Florida has a couple losses because they are a problem. The Bucks play just OK (aside from Trey Sermon) but end up undefeated – getting the 3-seed. And Notre Dame ends up at 4. I thought they would put Texas A&M at 4, but who cares? Either one will get smoked by Bama, right?

So… Clemson. This will only be the 5th meeting, but each one has been pretty interesting. Let’s just go through them:

1978: The underachieving Bucks, fresh off a 3rd straight loss to Michigan, head to the Gator Bowl to play 8th ranked Clemson. We play well, but a late interception from our freshman QB, Art Schlichter, to Clemson’s Charlie Bauman seals the deal. The only reason this resonates is because after the play Woody Hayes PUNCHES BAUMAN IN THE NECK and is promptly fired after 28 years as coach. Also, had Art started his bonkers gambling addiction yet? 17-15 loss… 0-1 all time vs Clemson.

2013: Whoa fast forward am I right! The 12-1 Bucks up against 10-2 Clemson. To set the scene: We had lost to Michigan State in the B1G Championship Game. All we had to do was beat MSU and we’d be matched up against Jameis Winston and Florida State in the final BCS game! Braxton, Carlos Hyde, Ryan Shazier, Brad Roby, Devin Smith… a good team! We had a shot right? (narrator: Sure…). Anyway, we get Clemson in the Orange Bowl. Clemson got blown out by FSU early in the season and also had a loss to S. Carolina (does SC still have a team??). My recollection prior to looking at the stats is we lost by 30 and their wide receivers had 1000 yards. Particularly Sammy Watkins. Tajh Boyd at QB… no other names I even recognize. Well it turns out Sammy only had 16 catches for 227 yards and was later the 4th pick in the NFL Draft and won a Super Bowl last year with the Chiefs. Looking back, we had a lead in the 4th quarter and multiple chances to win. But Sammy Watkins seemed inevitable. 40-35 loss. 0-2 vs. Clemson.

2016: The Bucks lose to Penn State in the regular season, don’t play in the B1G championship game, and still end up the 3 seed in the playoff, getting Clemson in the Semifinals… this is totally fine and we’ll say nothing more about it. Scholars have reviewed the tape and can’t seem to find the final score though I’m sure it was close. Heisman winner and all around badass DeShaun Watson proved to be a little too strong for JT Barrett, Mike Weber, Pat Elflein, Malik Hooker and co. – defeating our dear Buckeyes and then fucking up Alabama to win it all. ?-? loss. 0-3 vs. Clemson.

2019: As I type it’s been less than a year since this game. Feels like longer for some reason. #2 OSU vs. #3 Clemson. Both 13-0. First year for HC Ryan Day after the Urbanpocalypse. Dabo Swinney still being fuckin Dabo Swinney. All for a chance to get lit up by Joey Burrow (OSU CLAIMS JOE BURROW AND HIS HEISMAN TROPHY AND WE GET .25 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS THANK YOU). Justin Fields vs Trevor Lawrence. Dobbins vs Etienne. CHASE FREAKIN YOUNG. It was a good game, except for the refs inexplicably overturning a clear fumble return TD and giving the game to Clemson in a lovely little gift box. It’s bullshit like that that makes it a real rivalry. Anyway, left it all on the field, etc. We lose and Clemson gets lit up by JB. 29-23 loss. 0-4 vs. Clemson.

So, that brings us up to speed. It’s the third time we’ve got 2 vs. 3 in the playoff. Clemson and the Bucks. The trilogy! Can we finally win one vs our true rivals? We’ll add Michigan back to the rivals list when they give someone a game.

-Eric