Clemson football loses Tony Elliott for Sugar Bowl vs. Ohio State

Tony Elliott will not coach in the Sugar Bowl for the Clemson Tigers due to COVID.

The Clemson football team will be shorthanded offensively in the Sugar Bowl, as Tigers offensive coordinator Tony Elliott will be held out due to COVID-19 protocols.

Look for Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney to make some adjustments, as his team will not have its star offensive coordinator to coach in this game. Elliott, who had been a serious head-coaching candidate for a number of Power 5 jobs, will have to watch this national semifinal game from home like the rest of us. Will this help the Ohio State Buckeyes pull off the slight upset?

Ohio State is capable of advancing to the national championship over Clemson

Unlike the other national semifinal game between the No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide and the No. 4 Notre Dame Fighting Irish, this one between No. 2 Clemson and the No. 3 Ohio State will likely go down to the wire. Keep in mind Clemson barely held onto beat Ohio State a season ago in the Fiesta Bowl. While a blowout could happen, it is not expected in New Orleans on Friday night.

By not having Elliott available to coach, this may limit Clemson’s internet offensive versatility. While Swinney is an offensive coach himself, he is more of the CEO-type of head coach more than anything. Fortunately for his program, they have a phenomenal defensive coordinator in Brent Venables, who will have no problem devising a game plan to shut down quarterback Justin Fields.

Clemson is better than Ohio State, but Elliott’s absence does narrow the gap here a bit.

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