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No. 1 Clemson celebrates playoff selection with pizza party

Now, it would be fitting if Clemson was headed to the PapaJohns.com Bowl (now called the Birmingham Bowl) but they are now headed to the Orange Bowl to take on #4 Oklahoma.

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Thousands of Clemson fans watched with the football team as they learned who they would be taking on next.

Dabo Swinney and Nick Saban both have incredibly high standards for their players, and with the stakes as high as they were in Saturday’s conference championship games, it’s somewhat understandable that both coaches would be a little more on-edge than usual.

Swinney got the pizza idea rolling before the first playoff rankings were announced when asked if Clemson would celebrate if the Tigers were included in the top four.

Clemson outscored opponents 500-263 this season, and though the Tigers were tested at times they never trailed in a fourth quarter.

Clemson improved to 13-0, winning for a school-record 16th consecutive game dating to last season, and did so in fitting fashion – namely, with an offensive performance worthy of the record books.

“Clearly Clemson (is) the No. 1 team in the nation”, Jeff Long, chairman of the CFP selection committee, said Sunday.

Clemson and Oklahoma have split four meetings, dating back to 1963.

Long said bumping Michigan State past Oklahoma had nothing to do with avoiding the possibility of having the Sooners play close to home in the Dallas area.

Some fans left Charlotte to make it to Dabo’s pizza party. The Sooners are aiming for their first national title since 2000.

“I don’t think he’ll play, but I know he’d like to play”, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney told ESPN.

A Papa John’s extra large pizza is cut into ten slices, so the math works out to one slice of pizza per person in attendance. Clemson is looking for its first national championship since 1981.

In Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where the Tide is preparing for a second straight playoff appearance, it was just another Sunday. Alabama players were allowed to sleep in.

“The only poll that we’re excited about is December 6, and I promise you we’ll have the biggest poll party you’ve seen”, Swinney said at the time. Friday’s winners play Sunday for the national title.

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In another January 1 matchup, MS of the Southeastern Conference and Oklahoma State of the Big 12 will meet in the Sugar Bowl, while the December 31 Peach Bowl features a matchup between Florida State and Houston, the American Athletic Conference champion.

Clemson punter foolishly calls own fake play, Dabo Swinney tears him apart (Video)