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College football bowl games: Ranking every 2019-2020 bowl team

By Nicholas Ian Allen

Trevor Lawrence, Clemson Tigers. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
Trevor Lawrence, Clemson Tigers. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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Trevor Lawrence, Clemson Tigers
Trevor Lawrence, Clemson Tigers. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

2. Ohio State Buckeyes, 97.12

  • Roster Strength: 92.65 (1)
  • Team Performance: 94.18 (1)
  • Head Coach Rating: 93.05 (3)

The only thing standing in the way of Ohio State and the No. 1 spot in our Team Strength Ratings is Ryan Day’s Head Coach rating. Sure, Day improved his perfect record to 16-0 as a head coach when the Buckeyes beat Wisconsin 34-21 in the Big Ten Championship Game, but since it’s Day’s first full season in the role, he just hasn’t had the time to close the gap between Nick Saban and Dabo Swinney.

Nevertheless, Day has the top-rated roster in America at his disposal, and his squad held on to its No. 1 ranking in our Team Performance ratings, meaning the Buckeyes have looked like the best team in the country on the field this season. It would not be surprising at all for Day to lead Ohio State to the national championship this year.

But, at least according to CFB Winning Edge, the Bucks would be an underdog to Clemson in the championship game.

1. Clemson Tigers, 98.80

  • Roster Strength: 91.62 (3)
  • Team Performance: 93.24 (2)
  • Head Coach Rating: 100.00 (1)

Clemson might be the No. 3 seed in the College Football Playoff, but the Tigers moved into the top spot in our Team Strength power rankings immediately following Tua’s mid-season ankle injury and never relinquished it. The reigning national champions have a top-three roster, headlined by 100-rated quarterback Trevor Lawrence – who rebounded incredibly after a slow start as a sophomore to throw for 3,172 yards with 34 touchdowns and an average of 9.4 yards per pass attempt and running back Travis Etienne, whose lack of playing time in the second half of games this season is the biggest reason he was held to 1,500 rushing yards and 17 scores on the ground.

Dabo Swinney’s squad also has arguably the best defense in the country. According to Max Olsen of The Athletic, Clemson entered the ACC Championship Game ranked No. 1 in both stop rate (86.6 percent) and three-and-out percentage (51.8 percent), and then beat Virginia 62-17 while holding the Cavaliers to scores in three of 12 possessions, while forcing two three-and-outs and three turnovers.

Therefore, it shouldn’t be a shock Clemson is our top-rated team, and therefore the team to beat, in the College Football Playoff this season.

Next. 50 greatest college football teams of all time. dark

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