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Cotton Bowl Classic Preview: #3 Notre Dame vs. #2 Clemson

By Eric Robinson

SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 08: Te'von Coney #4 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates a sack with Khalid Kareem #53 against the Ball State Cardinals at Notre Dame Stadium on September 8, 2018 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 08: Te'von Coney #4 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates a sack with Khalid Kareem #53 against the Ball State Cardinals at Notre Dame Stadium on September 8, 2018 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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WINSTON SALEM, NC – OCTOBER 06: Teammates Trevor Lawrence #16 and Travis Etienne #9 of the Clemson Tigers watch on against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons during their game at BB&T Field on October 6, 2018 in Winston Salem, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
WINSTON SALEM, NC – OCTOBER 06: Teammates Trevor Lawrence #16 and Travis Etienne #9 of the Clemson Tigers watch on against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons during their game at BB&T Field on October 6, 2018 in Winston Salem, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

One half of the College Football Playoff gets underway as the Clemson Tigers takes on the undefeated Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Cotton Bowl.

We have finally reached what we have been waiting for and discussing all season. The College Football Playoff is now here and the first matchup presents a pair of undefeated teams. The last time the Irish were on a stage as big as this, they received a 42-14 loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2013 National Championship Game.

Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly has relieved some of the pressure placed on him before the season and now the expectations are championship or bust.

TV: ESPN
Time: 4:00 p.m. EST
Announcers: Sean McDonough, Todd Blackledge
Online streaming: WatchESPN

Winning the ACC for the fifth time in the past eight seasons seems a little more mundane now. The talent level for the Tigers has improved significantly during each season of Dabo Swinney’s career as head coach.

The coach made a controversial move during the season at the most important position and the team did not miss a beat and concluded their regular season with a  42-10 victory over Pittsburgh in the ACC Championship Game.

Let’s take a look at game one of the College Football Playoff with a preview and prediction.

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