College Football Playoff 2020: Simulating a 16-team bracket

16-team College Football Playoff quarterfinal: 2 Clemson vs. 7 Florida

Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables has made a living off of being able to slow down top-tier offenses. When the Tigers have been at their best in the Dabo Swinney-era, it’s because Venables has been able to maximize the talent under his watch and make them effective. However, there are times where even talent and scheme aren’t enough to stop a great offense.

That was evident a year ago in the National Championship Game loss to LSU. And while this year’s iteration of the Florida Gators isn’t necessarily on-par with the Tigers of last year, the offense is extremely potent. Kyle Trask has played out of his mind in the 2020 season and he has weapons that can attack every level of the field with a high level of effectiveness.

The problem that Florida has run into this season in their three losses, though, is that their defense isn’t in the same stratosphere as their offense. Texas A&M, LSU and Alabama all were able to move the ball seemingly at will and, for as good as the Gators offense is, they didn’t have enough juice to keep up with that.

Aside from Alabama, Clemson is the most talented offense that the Gators would have faced this season. So even if Florida was able to attack Venables’ defense and put some points on the board, the Tigers would be able to put up more. It’d be a shootout but one that Trevor Lawrence would ultimately prevail in.

Clemson wins, 48-38