Dabo Swinney doesn't see any diminished value in the Orange Bowl after falling short of the CFP
In what will be the most ironic Orange Bowl ever, Clemson will face off with Tennessee. Strip away the battle between two of the biggest orange teams in college athletics, though, and you’ll still find a matchup that’s very nearly worthy of being a College Football Playoff game. That’s why, although he and his team would naturally love to be in the CFP, Dabo Swinney says there’s no shame in coming short and having this experience instead.
During the Orange Bowl press conference, Swinney was ecstatic about the chance to play in this specific game. He says there’s a certain history behind this bowl game. Now, he hopes his Tigers and Josh Heupel’s Volunteers add to it at the end of the month.
“First of all, the history of the Orange Bowl is amazing. I mean some of the greatest games ever in college football have taken place at the Orange Bowl,” said Swinney. “It’s a big-time experience. It’s a big-time bowl.”
Considering the teams, this bowl game will be as close to a playoff game as we’ll get outside the playoff. Both Clemson and Tennessee spent the majority of the season at the front of the playoff race. In the end, both were still within reach of it but just missed out. However, since neither made it, they earned this bowl as a consolation prize. It won’t be a fight for a championship but, still, it should lead to a championship-level battle in Miami.
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“Both of these teams are playoff-caliber teams,” Swinney said. “There’s four spots and it’s really, really hard to be in the final four…There’s not many teams out there that have 10+ wins. Both of (our) teams were, certainly for 12-13 weeks, one of those teams that had the opportunity. We both had our opportunities to play our way in there…(But) this will be an exciting opportunity to finish our year.”
While it may not be the bowl that the Tiger or Volunteer faithful were hoping for, this will still provide a unique opportunity for both programs to compete. It should also allow one team to stand over the other when it comes to who rocks the orange best in college football.