Keys to the Game: 2018 Cotton Bowl

Clemson has a 95-15 record in the last eight seasons dating to the beginning of the 2011 season. This season marks Clemson's eighth consecutive season with double-digit wins, the second-longest streak in the country. Only Alabama (102-9) has more wins the last eight years. The Tigers also have the second-highest winning percentage (86.4) in that time frame. Only Alabama has a higher winning percentage (91.9).

Clemson has a streak of eight consecutive seasons with 10-plus wins. Its eighth consecutive 10-win season in 2018 ties the Tigers with the 1985-92 Miami Hurricanes and the 2004-11 Virginia Tech Hokies for the fourth-longest streak in FBS history and makes Clemson one of only six programs to accomplish the feat. The record for consecutive 10-win seasons is 14, set by Florida State (1987-00). Alabama is the only other program with an active streak of at least eight straight 10-win seasons. The Tigers have 15 10-win seasons in school history, with more than half coming in the last eight years under head coach Dabo Swinney. The 2018 season is Clemson’s fifth with at least 12 wins, and Swinney has been at the helm for four of them.

Entering the Cotton Bowl, Clemson has...

• Won 56 of its last 60 overall, dating to 2014
• Won 64 of its last 66 when leading at halftime
• Gone 85-2 since 2011 when leading after three quarters
• Gone 37-0 when scoring first since 2015
• Posted an 86-2 record when recording more first downs than its opponent since 2011

The Match Up:

Clemson (13-0, 8-0) vs. Notre Dame  (12-0)

Clemson vs. Notre Dame 2015 Highlights:

All-Time Series:

Clemson leads: 2-1
at Clemson:  Tied 1-1
at Notre Dame: 1-0
Neutral: This is the first neutral site meeting.
Last Meeting: Clemson defeated Notre Dame 24-22 in 2015 in Death Valley
Streak: Clemson has won the last two meetings.

Listen Live: Fox Sports Radio 1400 on iHeart Radio

Stat of the Week:

Head Coach Dabo Swinney's run of excellence in his decade-plus at Clemson has placed him in the company of college football legends. In Clemson's late-September win against Syracuse, Swinney passed the number of total victories earned by Notre Dame's Knute Rockne, the winningest coach by percentage in Division I history. Rockne compiled a 105-12-5 career record from 1918-30 at Notre Dame for a record 88.1 winning percentage.

Swinney’s current 79.2 winning percentage is 18th best in Division I history among coaches with a minimum of 10 years experience, moving ahead of No. 19 Nick Saban (79.1). Earlier this year against Wake Forest, Swinney passed Bear Bryant, who had a 78.0 winning percentage (323-85-17).

Key 1: Attack the Edge

Clemson’s home run hitting back Travis Etienne has a chance for a bit of redemption after his performance a year ago in the Sugar Bowl. At the time, Etienne, a freshman, missed a key block late that led to a Kelly Bryant interception. That moment didn’t define his season, but it has to be something that he remembers, and this would be the perfect chance for redemption.

Etienne has rushed for over 150 yards six times this season and has clipped the 200-yard mark on one occasion. Notre Dame’s defensive line is their strength, and if the Tigers star running back can begin to bust open some big plays early, it could be a big day for the Clemson offense. 

If the Irish have to commit additional players to defend the run, Trevor Lawrence and Clemson’s offensive arsenal will shred the green and gold defenders.

Key 2: Early Production

In order for Clemson to feel comfortable as the heavy favorite, it seems obvious that playing well early is a big key. The pressure of the game could build against a Tiger team that has played in big games like this the past four years. 

If Notre Dame strikes with a few quick punches in the first quarter, it will be interesting to see Clemson react. If the Tigers play well early a comfort could fall over the team that leads to some very strong play. 

Like a prize fighter, you can expect the Irish to try to throw a few haymakers. If they connect, Clemson could find itself in a battle for the entire contest.

Key 3: Special Teams 

The Fighting Irish are terrible on kick return coverage and Derion Kendrick could be a huge advantage for Clemson in this department. The 23.4 yards per return which ranks 112^th in college football. The Irish have also given up two touchdowns this season. If Clemson can exploit this area in the game today, it could be a catalyst to another national championship berth.

Prediction:

Talking with Irish fans before the game, one thing became abundantly clear, Clemson has earned the respect of one of, if not the most storied programs in college football history. One Notre Dame fan, in particular, stated, “This must be pretty normal for you guys. You are here all the time.” 

That statement alone is a testament to what Dabo Swinney has built in his decade at Clemson. Watching the Tigers emerge as college football royalty once felt unusual, but now it’s become expected that the Tigers will be in the playoff conversation.

In fact, yesterday, Dabo Swinney had to remind fans that, "We're not going to make the Playoff every year. I'm just going to go ahead and ‘news flash’ everybody."

Clemson has the better team from top to bottom, and even minus Dexter Lawrence, we expect to see the Tigers play in California for all the marbles.

Final Score Predictions: 

Perfect Prediction = 5 points              Best Prediction = 3 Points         Correct Prediction = 1 Point 

**Pick of the Week: Indicates the best prediction given for that game.