The list of things Travis Etienne hasn’t accomplished while at Clemson is a pretty short one.
But there is one thing in particular most every athlete wants to do: win a game back in your hometown or home state. Clemson running back Travis Etienne has the chance to do that now after coming up short in New Orleans in the Tigers’ two previous trips during the College Football Playoff era.
They say the third times the charm and Clemson is hopeful that old saying proves to be true with another postseason trip to “The Big Easy”. Clemson heads back to the college football playoff for the sixth straight time after defeating Notre Dame in the 2020 ACC title game, 34-10.
Two of Clemson’s previous playoff journeys included stops in New Orleans and both the Semifinal loss to Alabama in 2017 and the blowout loss to LSU in 2019 were nights to forget. In his freshman season, he was held to roughly 20 yards on just four carries. In last season’s CFP title game, he fared better with 15 carries for 78 yards and one touchdown. However, the Tigers again came up short, falling to LSU, 42-25.
The storybook finish is already closing in on publication time and Friday night we’re going to press one way or another. The only question now is what will the ending be?
What a way it would to go out in his home state than a leading his Tigers to victory in New Orleans and sending Dabo Swinney’s army back to the title game for the third straight season. The Clemson graduate and and record-breaking running back will certainly look to put his best foot forward in his last shot at a homecoming victory.
No. 2 Clemson will battle No. 3 Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1 with kickoff slated for 8 p.m. on ESPN. Clemson leads the all-time series over the Buckeyes 4-0 and the Tigers are currently 7.5-point favorites over the Buckeyes.
The Hall Pass 