Orange Bowl 2015, Oklahoma vs. Clemson, 37-17: Full highlights, final score and more

Clemson ran away in the second half against Oklahoma to win the 2015 Orange Bowl and advance in the College Football Playoff

The Oklahoma Sooners and Clemson Tigers were always going to put on a show in the 2015 Orange Bowl in the first College Football semifinal matchup. With two of the best offenses in the country going against two high quality defenses, it was merely destiny that their matchup on New Year’s Eve would deliver in terms of entertainment. Even with injuries to Shaq Lawson and Samaje Perine (though Perine returned after his backup Joe Mixon was hurt) in this game, both the Sooners and the Tigers delivered with a shot at the national championship on the line.

Oklahoma started out the matchup looking like they could potentially just roll right past the Tigers. Baker Mayfield and company marched down the field on the opening drive and capped it off with a Perine touchdown run from right in front of the goal line. However, both teams were held to just a Clemson field goal between the two for the rest of the first quarter, but that’s when Deshaun Watson woke up.

Though he made his bones with his arm plenty of times in the regular season, he kick started the offense in the Orange Bowl with his rushing ability as he led the Tigers on a 96-yard drive at the start of the second quarter for a touchdown. They added two more field goals while Oklahoma answered with a field goal, a touchdown, and a touchdown-saving interception by the defense to go into the half with OU up 17-16.

Clemson came out firing in the second half, though, as Wayne Gallman got going running the ball and led the way down the field to finish off a 75-yard drive with a score. Even after a missed field goal by the Tigers, their defense came up big with a huge stuff of a banged up Perine on fourth down, a play that really swung the momentum of the game. Watson threw his first touchdown pass of the game to Hunter Renfrow of the ensuing drive and then B.J. Goodson picked off Mayfield on the next drive, putting Clemson heavily in control late in the third, up 30-17.

The Tigers would go on to add another touchdown from Gallman to push the lead to 20 points before Mayfield and the Sooners tried to make something happen, but it only resulted in another turnover midway through the fourth quarter. Dabo Swinney’s men were content to run the clock out from that point forward as they rolled over the Sooners and into the College Football Playoff Final with the Orange Bowl victory.

Three stars

Deshaun Watson was a monster for the Tigers in terms of both production and leadership. He finished the night with 187 yards passing with one touchdown and one interception to go with 145 yards and a score on the ground as well.

Wayne Gallman really got going in the second half and ended up with 150 yards rushing and two scores for Clemson.

Even with the two picks, Baker Mayfield may not have had his best night of the season, but he was big-time in keeping the Sooners relevant in this matchup. He finished the game with 311 yards passing, one touchdown pass, and obviously the two interceptions.

Highlights

Odds

The Sooners were 3.5-point favorites coming into this game, which they obviously failed to cover in the loss. The two teams also fell well short and hit the under on the 63-point O/U line.

Next Game

Oklahoma’s season is over, but the Tigers will go onto face the winner of Alabama and Michigan State in the College Football Playoff final.