Clemson Moves On To Title Game With 29-23 Win Over Ohio State

Dec 28, 2019, 10:26 PM

Trevor Lawrence #16 of the Clemson Tigers attempts a pass under pressure from Chase Young #2 and Davon Hamilton #53 of the Ohio State Buckeyes in the first half during the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)

(Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)

BY RALPH D. RUSSO, AP

KSL Sports

GLENDALE, Ariz. – Trevor Lawrence connected with Travis Etienne on a 34-yard touchdown with 1:49 left in the fourth quarter and No. 3 Clemson beat No. 2 Ohio State 29-23 Saturday night at the Fiesta Bowl to advance to the College Football Playoff championship game.

The Tigers went 94 yards on four plays in 1:18, with Lawrence completing all three of his passes and mixing in an 11-yard run.

Down 2 with 3 minutes to play and the offense goes 94 yards on just 4 plays to score the go-ahead touchdown…#ALLIN pic.twitter.com/4OfXFXjdfi

— Clemson Football (@ClemsonFB) December 29, 2019

The sophomore quarterback who has never lost a college start passed for 259 yards and two scores and ran for a career-high 107 yards, including a 67-yard touchdown late in the first half.

Lawrence added a 2-point conversion to Tee Higgins, but it left plenty of time for Ohio State and Justin Fields to respond. The Buckeyes drove to the Clemson 23, but on second-and-7, Fields fired to the end zone and was picked off by Nolan Turner with 37 seconds left. Ohio State receiver Chris Olave had broken off his route and left Fields throwing to no one.

INTERCEPTED! What a finish! #CFBPlayoff pic.twitter.com/7u8sU3d2IA

— ESPN (@espn) December 29, 2019

One more knee from Lawrence and defending national champion Clemson had secured its 29th straight victory and fourth trip to the CFP championship game in five years.