The Clemson Tigers are back in the College Football Playoff for the second straight season, but they weren't as impressive as you would expect during the regular season. They won six games by seven points or less - the first time a Clemson team has done that since 1948 - but quarterback Deshaun Watson says reaching this point has given Clemson new life.
“This is a whole new season," he said. "The regular season and all of that stuff is behind us. This is a one-game season right here. We are going to put all of our energy and focus on this. We will then live with the results and then we will move on.
“It has been an enjoyable season. We don’t have any problems. No one comes in with a bad attitude. We always come in ready to play and ready to put in the work. It has just been a fun team to play with. All of the guys understand what we are about, and what we need to do in order to achieve our goals, and that is what we have been doing each and every day. I just love all of these guys. There are always smiles on each of their faces. It’s been fun.”
Watson has admitted that it has been hard to focus at times this season given their expectations, but are at the point where they can get what they want out of the season. That's something that co-offensive coordinator Jeff Scott echoed.
"It's one thing to be walking out of there and saying, 'We want a chance at a rematch,'" Scott said. "It's another to be four quarters away from that."
Clemson will square off against Ohio State at 7:00 pm ET in the Fiesta Bowl on New Year's Eve.
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