2019 PlayStation Fiesta Bowl
College Football Playoff Semifinal 49th Fiesta Bowl
Ohio State on offense in the 1st quarter
Clemson Tigers Ohio State Buckeyes (13–0) (13–0) ACC Big Ten 29 23 Head coach:  Dabo Swinney Head coach:  Ryan Day AP Coaches CFP 3 3 3 AP Coaches CFP 2 2 2
1 2 3 4 Total Clemson 0 14 7 8 29 Ohio State 10 6 0 7 23
Date	December 28, 2019
Season	2019
Stadium	State Farm Stadium
Location	Glendale, Arizona
MVP	Trevor Lawrence (QB, Clemson) Chad Smith (LB, Clemson)
Favorite	Clemson by 2½
National anthem	The dancing Class of lafayette academy
Referee	Ken Williamson (SEC)[1]
Halftime show	Clemson University Tiger Band Ohio State University Marching Band
Attendance	71,330
Payout	US$6,000,000[2]
United States TV coverage
Network	ESPN andESPN Radio
Announcers	ESPN:Chris Fowler (play-by-play) Kirk Herbstreit (analyst) Maria Taylor andTom Rinaldi (sideline) ESPN Radio:Sean Kelley,Barrett Jones,Ian Fitzsimmons
Nielsen ratings	11.1 (21.2 million viewers)[3]
International TV coverage
Network	ESPN Deportes
Fiesta Bowl  ←2019 (Jan.) 2021 →  2 vs. 3 Seed CFP Semifinal Game  ←2018 Cotton 2021 Sugar →

The2019 Fiesta Bowl was acollege footballbowl game played on December 28, 2019, played atState Farm Stadium inGlendale, Arizona, and was broadcast byESPN. It was the 49th edition of theFiesta Bowl, and was one of the2019–20 bowl games concluding the2019 FBS football season. The Fiesta Bowl was one of twoCollege Football Playoff semifinal games, the game featured two of the four teams selected by the College Football Playoff Selection Committee—Clemson from theACC, andOhio State from theBig Ten, with the winner advancing to the2020 College Football Playoff National Championship. Sponsored bySony Interactive Entertainment via itsPlayStation brand, the game was officially known as theCollege Football Playoff Semifinal at the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl.

Ohio State raced to a 16–0 lead with 7 minutes remaining in the first half, having three long drives to thered zone that were stopped by the Clemson defense. Clemson added two quick scores, within 95 seconds of each other, to cut the lead to 16-14 at halftime. The teams exchanged the lead three times throughout the second half. After Clemson scored to make it 29–23, Ohio State had one last chance to take the lead.quarterbackJustin Fields led his team to the Clemson 23-yard line, but a pass meant forChris Olave wasintercepted in theendzone byNolan Turner after a miscommunication, sealing the victory for Clemson.

With the win, Clemson advanced to theCFP National Championship where they would lose to LSU by a score of 42-25, while Ohio State's season came to an end.

This was the fourth meeting between Clemson and Ohio State. The Tigers had won each of the prior three matchups, most recently defeating Ohio State 31-0 in the2016 Fiesta Bowl. It was also the first CFP semifinals featuring two undefeated teams.

Ohio State entered the 2019 season led by first year head coachRyan Day following the retirement of head coachUrban Meyer. The Buckeyes would roll through their schedule with ease winning every game by double digits and defeatedWisconsin in theBig Ten Championship Game to move to a 13–0 record. This was Ohio State's thirdCollege Football Playoff (CFP) semifinal game. The Buckeyes were 1–1 in prior CFP semifinals, their most recent appearance being a loss toClemson in the 2016 Fiesta Bowl. Overall, Ohio State was 2–1 in prior CFP games, including their win overOregon in the2015 CFP National Championship. This was Ohio State's ninth appearance in the Fiesta Bowl; the Buckeyes were 5–3 in prior Fiesta Bowl games.

Clemson entered the 2019 season as the defending national champions after winning their second national championship in three seasons in 2018. Clemson like Ohio State rolled though their schedule with ease winning every game but one by double digits and defeatedVirginia in theACC Championship Game to move to 13–0. The Fiesta Bowl marked Clemson's fifth consecutive CFP semifinal appearance. The Tigers' most recent loss had been toAlabama in the CFP semifinalSugar Bowl on January 1, 2018; their 28 consecutive victories were the most in the nation and one oflongest winning streaks in FBS history.^[4]

The Tigers were 3–1 in prior CFP semifinal games, most recently defeatingNotre Dame in the2018 Cotton Bowl. Including national championship contests, this was Clemson's eighth overall CFP game; they had a 5–2 record in prior CFP games, mostly recently defeatingAlabama in the2019 CFP National Championship. This was Clemson's second appearance in the Fiesta Bowl; they defeated Ohio State in the December 2016 edition.

Clemson won the coin toss, and deferred possession to the second half, giving Ohio State the openingkickoff. Ohio State's offense started strong, marching down the field and following a difficult catch byGarrett Wilson found themselves at the 5 yard line but would be unable to reach theendzone, settling for aBlake Haubeilfield goal to take a 3–0 lead. On their first possession, Clemson would drive to Ohio State's 32 before attempting a field goal that sailed wide left, keeping the score at 3–0. On the first play on the ensuing drive Ohio State'sJ.K. Dobbins broke free for a 68-yardtouchdown run to give the Buckeyes a 10–0 lead. On the next drive Clemson would drive into Ohio State territory before stalling out andpunting the ball to Ohio State, pinning the Buckeyes at their own 9-yard line. On their next possession, Ohio State would gain just 9 yards and would punt. Clemson's offense would fail to capitalize on the strong field position, goingthree and out and punting the ball for atouchback. Ohio State started their drive on their 25 and were soon faced with a 3rd and 2. On3rd down and the final play of the first quarter, Dobbins would once again break free for a big run, running 64 yards to Clemson's 8 yard line beforeTanner Muse made a shoestringtackle to prevent a touchdown. Ohio State began the second quarter with a 1st and goal on the Clemson 8 yard line and were soon faced with a 3rd and goal. On 3rd down, Dobbins swung out to theflat and appeared to catch a touchdown fromJustin Fields, however uponvideo review it was ruled that Dobbins failed to make the catch, forcing Ohio State to once again settle for a field goal inside Clemson's 10 yard line, making the score 13–0. Following the Ohio State's score Clemson's offense would once again struggle, going 3 and out and punting. Ohio State would then drive 78 yards to Clemson's 11 yard line before kicking a field goal; their 3rd field goal inside thered zone, to make the score 16–0. On the ensuing drive Clemson would drive to the Ohio State 45. Following a failed 3rd down conversion Clemson's drive would stay alive on aShaun Wadetargeting penalty. Clemson would take advantage of this penalty with aTravis Etienne touchdown rush to cut the lead to 16–7 with 2:45 remaining in the half. Ohio State would then go 3 and out, punting the ball back to Clemson. On the third play of the drive,Trevor Lawerence would elude defenders running 67 yards for a touchdown, Clemson's second in less than 2 minutes to make the score 16–14 at the half.

The two teams exchanged punts on their opening second half drives, with Ohio State'sDrue Chrisman pinning Clemson at their own 1 yard line. Clemson would pick up a first down but were soon forced to punt. On the punt Ohio State would send pressure in an attempt toblock the punt but wouldrough the punter and give Clemson a new set of downs. Two plays later Lawrence would connect with Etienne on ascreen pass who then ran through defenders for a touchdown to make the score 21–16. Ohio State would lose yards on their next possession and were forced to punt. On the next drive, following asack on Trevor Lawerence, Clemson was faced with a 3rd and 19. Lawrence would throw a pass toJustyn Ross who corralled the ball before it was jarred loose byJeff Okudah, Ohio State would pick the ball up and run to the end zone. The referees and later video review would rule that Ross failed to establish possession of the ball before it was stripped negating an Ohio State touchdown that would have occurred if the play had been ruled a catch andfumble. Avoiding disaster, Clemson would punt the ball. On the following driveIsaiah Simmons wouldintercept aJustin Fields pass; the games firstturnover. Clemson would fail to capitalize on the turnover, going three and out. Ohio State would then drive 16 yards to their 32-yard line as the quarter ended with Clemson leading 21–16. Ohio State began the fourth quarter facing a 3rd and 9. Fields would find Dobbins for 11 yards for the 3rd down conversion. Ohio State would drive to the Clemson 23 before being faced with a 4th down and 2 and elected to go for it. Fields would throw a bullet pass toChris Olave in the end zone for a touchdown to take a 23–21 lead. Following a Clemson punt Ohio State would drive 50 yards to the Clemson 39 before being forced to punt, pinning Clemson on the 6. Clemson began their next drive on their own 6 yard line with 3:07 remaining in the game. Clemson would march 94 yards in just 4 plays capped of by a 32-yard touchdown pass from Lawrence to Etienne to retake the lead. Following atwo point conversion, Clemson would hold a 29–23 lead with 1:49 remaining. Ohio State would then drive to the Clemson 23 with 43 seconds left. On the next play Ohio State had Olaveone-on-one with ClemsoncornerbackNolan Turner. Olave would run apost route as Fields threw the ball to the middle of the end zone. Olave with his back to Fields thus not knowing the ball had been thrown would option tocorner route as he believed Fields wasscrambling.^[5] Turner who was facing Fields was able to track the ball for an easy interception in the end zone, all but ending the game. On the next play Clemson would take aknee to end the game 29–23 and advance to theNational Championship.

• Game statistics at statbroadcast.com

• 2019–20 NCAA football bowl games
• 2019–20 College Football Playoff
• Fiesta Bowl
• Clemson Tigers football bowl games
• Ohio State Buckeyes football bowl games
• 2019 in sports in Arizona
• December 2019 sports events in the United States

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