Ohio State raced to a 16–0 lead with 7 minutes remaining in the first half, having three long drives to the red zone that were stopped by the Clemson defense.

With the win, Clemson advanced to the CFP National Championship where they would lose to LSU by a score of 42-25, while Ohio State's season came to an end.

The Tigers' most recent loss had been to Alabama in the CFP semifinal Sugar Bowl on January 1, 2018; their 28 consecutive victories were the most in the nation and one of longest winning streaks in FBS history.

[4] The Tigers were 3–1 in prior CFP semifinal games, most recently defeating Notre Dame in the 2018 Cotton Bowl.

Clemson won the coin toss, and deferred possession to the second half, giving Ohio State the opening kickoff.

On their first possession, Clemson would drive to Ohio State's 32 before attempting a field goal that sailed wide left, keeping the score at 3–0.

On the first play on the ensuing drive Ohio State's J.K. Dobbins broke free for a 68-yard touchdown run to give the Buckeyes a 10–0 lead.

On 3rd down, Dobbins swung out to the flat and appeared to catch a touchdown from Justin Fields, however upon video review it was ruled that Dobbins failed to make the catch, forcing Ohio State to once again settle for a field goal inside Clemson's 10 yard line, making the score 13–0.

Following a failed 3rd down conversion Clemson's drive would stay alive on a Shaun Wade targeting penalty.

Clemson would take advantage of this penalty with a Travis Etienne touchdown rush to cut the lead to 16–7 with 2:45 remaining in the half.

On the third play of the drive, Trevor Lawerence would elude defenders running 67 yards for a touchdown, Clemson's second in less than 2 minutes to make the score 16–14 at the half.

The two teams exchanged punts on their opening second half drives, with Ohio State's Drue Chrisman pinning Clemson at their own 1 yard line.

Two plays later Lawrence would connect with Etienne on a screen pass who then ran through defenders for a touchdown to make the score 21–16.

Clemson would march 94 yards in just 4 plays capped of by a 32-yard touchdown pass from Lawrence to Etienne to retake the lead.