Clemson and Ohio State will square off in the Sugar Bowl on Friday at 8 p.m. on ESPN, their fourth meeting in the last eight seasons and third meeting in the seven-year history of the College Football Playoff. And while the Tigers have won every matchup between the two programs and are considered a 7.5-point favorite this time around, the Buckeyes are interestingly the more talented team on paper in terms of recruiting rankings
In fact, an analysis of both rosters shows that Ohio State has 14 former five-star prospects, led by quarterback Justin Fields, and 52 former four-star players, whereas Clemson has just 11 former five-star prospects, with quarterback Trevor Lawrence leading the way, and 35 four-star players. Altogether, they’ve led the Buckeyes to four straight Big Ten titles and Tigers to six straight ACC championships.
“I think they’re great recruiters,” Ohio State defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs said of Clemson during Sugar Bowl Media Days on Dec. 29. “I think they do a phenomenal job when they have kids on their campus. That’s always a battle and you know that when kids are going there to visit. I do think we both identify the same players from the same parts of the country so you’re going to battle.
“When you go to recruit against the best teams in the country and they’re good at what they do, it’s going to be like that. The elite players have some really good choices, and those schools, they’re all battling for those guys.”
So how do the rosters compare? Let’s take a look.
Note: Players are listed in order by their 247Sports composite ranking.
Clemson
Five-Stars (11)
- Trevor Lawrence*
- Bryan Bresee*
- Xavier Thomas
- Myles Murphy*
- D.J. Uiagalelei
- K.J. Henry*
- Demarkcus Bowman
- Jackson Carman*
- Andrew Booth*
- Trenton Simpson
- Derion Kendrick*
Four-Stars (35)
- DeMonte Capehart
- Frank Ladson
- Justyn Ross
- Walker Parks
- Fred Davis
- Joseph Ngata
- E.J. Williams*
- Will Putnam*
- Paul Tchio
- Mario Goodrich
- Amari Rodgers*
- Sheridan Jones
- Justin Mascoll
- Tyler Davis*
- Joseph Charleston
- Mitchell Mayes
- Justin Foster
- Cornell Powell*
- Jordan Williams
- LeAnthony Williams
- Mike Jones*
- Sergio Allen
- R.J. Mickens
- Travis Etienne*
- Taisun Phommachanh
- Chez Mellusi
- Matt Brockhorst*
- Lyn-J Dixon
- Kevin Swint
- LaVonta Bentley
- Malcolm Greene
- Jaelyn Lay
- Bryn Tucker
- Kane Patterson
- Nyles Pinckney
Three-Stars (32)
- John Williams
- Ajou Ajou
- Blake Vinson
- Keith Maguire
- Tayquon Johnson
- Jalyn Phillips
- Etinosa Reuben
- Kobe Pace
- Jake Venables
- Hunter Rayburn
- Brannon Spector
- Greg Williams
- Darnell Jefferies
- Ray Thornton
- Sage Ennis
- J.C. Chlalk
- Ruke Orhorhoro
- Landed Zanders*
- Davis Allen
- Baylon Spector*
- Jordan McFadden*
- Braden Galloway*
- Michel Dukes
- Kaleb Boateng
- James Skalski*
- Tyler Venables
- Trent Howard
- B.T. Potter*
- Aidan Swanson
- Sylvester Mayers
- Hunter Helms
- Cade Stewart*
Two-Stars (4)
- Jake Herbstreit
- Mason Trotter
- Tye Herbstreit
- Maddie Golden
Unranked Starter (1)
- Nolan Turner*
Ohio State
Five-Stars (14)
- Justin Fields*
- Julian Fleming
- Nicholas Petit-Frere*
- Paris Johnson
- Baron Browning*
- Zach Harrison
- Shaun Wade*
- Garrett Wilson*
- Taron Vincent
- Wyatt Davis*
- Tyreke Johnson
- Harry Miller*
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba
- Justin Hilliard
Four-Stars (52)
- Tyreke Smith*
- Jonathon Cooper*
- Jeremy Ruckert*
- C.J. Stroud
- Teradja Mitchell
- Demario McCall
- Josh Myers*
- Tommy Togiai*
- Gee Scott
- Haskell Garrett*
- Cody Simon
- Matthew Jones
- Josh Proctor
- Kamryn Babb
- Jameson Williams*
- Mookie Cooper
- Tyler Friday
- Luke Wypler
- Cade Stover
- Ronnie Hickman
- Max Wray
- Enokk Vimahi
- Jake Hausmann
- Dallas Gant
- Darrion Henry-Young
- Jacolbe Cowan
- Kourt Williams
- Antwuan Jackson
- Lathan Ransom
- Jaylen Harris
- Marcus Williamson*
- Luke Farrell*
- Trey Sermon*
- Ryan Watts
- K’Vaughan Pope
- Javontae Jean-Baptiste
- Sevyn Banks*
- Master Teague*
- Steele Chambers
- Jerron Cage
- Ryan Jacoby
- Pete Werner*
- Thayer Munford*
- Cameron Brown
- Tommy Eichenberg
- Cameron Martinez
- Noah Potter
- Jack Miller
- Tuf Borland*
- Mitchell Melton
- Lejond Cavazos
- Marcus Crowley
Three-Stars (24)
- Chris Olave*
- Joe Royer
- Grant Toutant
- Gavin Cupp
- Josh Fryar
- Bryson Shaw
- Cormontae Hamilton
- Craig Young
- Marcus Hooker*
- Miyan Williams
- Jaden MCKenzie
- Ty Hamilton
- Jakob James
- Drue Chrisman*
- Dawand Jones
- Ellijah Gardiner
- Trey Leroux
- Gunnar Hoak
- Xavier Johnson
- Jake Seibert
- Chris Booker
- Blake Haubeil*
- J.P. Andrade
- Corey Rau
Two-Star (1)
- Zaid Hamdan
*denotes starter
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