Here’s a look inside Saturday’s Cotton Bowl matchup — and College Football Playoff semifinal — between No. 2 Clemson and No. 3 Notre Dame:
When Clemson has the ball
It’s hard to find a weakness on the Clemson offense. It boasts the eighth-ranked rushing attack in the country and the No. 22 passing unit. True freshman Trevor Lawrence looks like a future Sunday star, sophomore Travis Etienne is the Tigers’ most explosive running back in years — he was the ACC Offensive Player of the Year after setting a school record with 21 touchdown runs — and Lawrence has a plethora of weapons at his disposal, from clutch senior Hunter Renfrow to speedster Justyn Ross. Notre Dame didn’t see an offense like this all year. The closest would be Syracuse, but the Orange were without starting quarterback Eric Dungey for most of the Fighting Irish’s 36-3 rout on Nov. 17.
Edge: Clemson
When Notre Dame has the ball
Look for the Irish to throw to set up the run against the Tigers’ premier defensive line. Expect a lot of short, safe passes early to loosen up the back end of Clemson’s secondary, which was exposed by quality passing teams Texas A&M and South Carolina, and for quarterback Ian Book to use play-action to stretch the field. The absence of All-ACC first team defensive tackle selection Dexter Lawrence isn’t as significant as some believe. Clemson’s ninth-ranked defense still has three pros in Austin Bryant, Christian Wilkins and Clelin Ferrell up front. You beat them through the air, which has become an Irish strength led by Book.
Edge: Notre Dame
Special Teams
Senior kicker Justin Yoon gives Notre Dame a reliable weapon Clemson lacks. Neither team does much in the return game.
Edge: Notre Dame
Coaching
Credit Notre Dame’s Brian Kelly for adjusting, understanding he needed to loosen up, become less rigid and empower his players. Two years ago, following a dismal 4-8 campaign, Kelly looked to be on his way out. He has won 22 of 25 games since, and made the gutsiest decision of the season, replacing quarterback Brandon Wimbush with Book after three wins. The Irish would not be here without that move. On the other sideline is the best coach in the country not named Nick Saban. Dabo Swinney has Clemson in the playoff for the fourth straight season after making his own difficult decision at quarterback — going with Lawrence over senior Kelly Bryant, who subsequently decided to transfer — and has proven his unorthodox, carefree style works. Kelly has gotten Notre Dame to this level before, and the Irish were destroyed by Alabama, 42-14, in the 2012 BCS Championship Game. Swinney has already won a national championship and has been to another title game. Experience matters this time of year.
Edge: Clemson
Players who could decide the game
Travis Etienne, Clemson RB
Everyone tends to focus on Trevor Lawrence and his many weapons, but Etienne is the key to Clemson’s offense. He’s a fast and physical runner who averages a whopping 8.3 yards per carry.
Miles Boykin, Notre Dame WR
Quality receivers have run free against the Clemson secondary all season, and the 6-foot-4 Boykin should have ample opportunities to wreak havoc down the field.
Clelin Ferrell, Clemson DE
Only seven players in the country had more sacks this year than Ferrell (10.5), a consensus top-10 NFL draft pick who will be in Book’s face all game.
Prediction
The 12 ¹/₂-point spread is too high, especially with Dexter Lawrence sidelined. Notre Dame isn’t lucky to be here — the Irish earned it, surviving a tougher schedule than Clemson had to deal with in the woeful ACC. Book will expose the Tigers’ secondary and Notre Dame will take a lead into the fourth quarter. But Etienne and Lawrence will come up big late, sending the Tigers back to the title game.
Clemson 31, Notre Dame 24