The University of Oklahoma will have a chance to take down top-ranked Clemson at the Orange Bowl semifinal for the College Football Playoff on December 31.
For the Sooners, the semifinal is opportunity to avenge last year’s blowout loss at the hands of the Clemson Tigers in the Russell Athletic Bowl. But this is a different Sooner team, led by quarterback Baker Mayfield.
Alabama and Michigan State will round out the four-team playoff in the Cotton Bowl semifinal.
Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports picks Oklahoma to finish the College Football Playoff with the national championship:
The Sooners got here with quarterback Baker Mayfield running rings around the opposition and defying convention. An undersized two-time walk-on isn't supposed to play for a national championship. By comparison, Clemson's Deshaun Watson looks practically immobile. Bob Stoops replaced three coaches in the offseason. Offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley assembled the only offense in the bracket in the top 20 in rushing and passing.
So far this year, the Sooners have beaten four of the five teams that defeated them last year --- TCU, Kansas State, Baylor and Oklahoma State. Clemson is the lone holdout. Jason Kersey at The Oklahoman writes that the Sooners will now get their chance to take down Clemson:.
Many of the Sooners said all the right things Sunday regarding the idea of “revenge,” but no one denied that last year's beating wouldn't be in the back of their minds as they prepare for a run at Oklahoma's eighth football national championship. “I don't think any of it is about getting teams back or them trying to get us back,” said junior cornerback Zack Sanchez. “The ultimate motivation right now is trying to win a national championship. I don't think you need to say much about it much more.”
The winners of the Orange Bowl and the Cotton Bowl will play in the national championship on January 11.
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