Ranking every College Football Playoff team in history

TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 09: Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney holds up the National Championship trophy after the 2017 College Football National Championship Game between the Clemson Tigers and Alabama Crimson Tide on January 9, 2017, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL. Clemson defeated Alabama 35-31. (Photo by Mark LoMoglio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

4 of 16

Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) is swamped by the Clemson defense in the fourth quarter in the Capital One Orange Bowl at SunLife Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla., on Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015. Clemson won, 37-17. (Charles Trainor Jr./Miami Herald/TNS via Getty Images) /

13. Oklahoma Sooners – 2016

Result: Lost to Clemson in Semifinal (Orange Bowl), 37-17

Though losing by 20 points may look like the 2015-16 Oklahoma Sooners suffered from the same type of issues that the 2017-18 iteration could as they head into the College Football Playoff, that wasn’t wholly the case. When you look at how things played out in the Orange Bowl, it was actually a different story than what the final score-line ultimately indicated.

The first half of the contest was very much a grinding, back-and-forth type of affair. Both offenses found marginal success, but both defenses also stepped up and made critical stops throughout the first 30 minutes of action. And in Oklahoma’s favor, they were actually able to take the lead going into halftime when Baker Mayfield found Mark Andrews — two guys still getting it done for the boys from Norman this year — for an 11-yard touchdown to take a 17-16 lead.

However, it was the second half where Clemson took control. Put simply, their defense just brought it more than Oklahoma’s offense or defense did in the second half. Yes, the Tigers offense drove quickly to start the second half, but it was the defense that didn’t allow Mayfield and the OU offense to get into any kind of rhythm, thus allowing the Tigers to control the rest of the game.

When you get down to it, though, this version of the Sooners was likely better than this years. Yes, Mayfield was a lesser player two years ago. However, the defense was far superior to the 2017-18 unit, and that makes a world of difference when looking at the overall team.