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GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Ohio State did not play in the Big Ten championship game a year ago and ended up in the Fiesta Bowl instead of the College Football Playoff.The Buckeyes again missed out on the conference title game this season and are headed back to the Fiesta Bowl. This time, its for a spot in the national championship game.Ohio State finished third in the final CFP rankings on Sunday and will face No. 2 Clemson in the Dec. 31 Fiesta Bowl, setting up a matchup of marquee teams with dynamic quarterbacks.Its great to be here, said Ohio State coach Urban Meyer, who also became a grandfather for the first time on Sunday. We understand how hard it is to make the playoffs and were humbled and honored.The Buckeyes (11-1) lost their bid for the Big Ten title with a loss to Penn State on Oct. 22. The Nittany Lions went on to win the Big Ten title game on Saturday, rallying from 21 points down to beat No. 5 Wisconsin 38-31.It wasnt enough.Ohio States strength of schedule, which included a loss to Oklahoma and was capped by last weeks double-overtime victory over then-No. 3 Michigan, pushed the Buckeyes past Penn State and back to the desert. Ohio State beat Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl a year ago and is the first team in the three years of the CFP to reach the playoffs without winning its conference championship.I think this is going to be interesting about strength of schedule because you think of it, if Oklahoma didnt play us, theyd be in, Meyer said.Clemson (12-1) suffered what appeared to be a debilitating loss to unranked Pittsburgh on Nov. 12, but followed up with lopsided wins over Wake Forest and South Carolina.The Tigers closed out the season with a 42-35 win over No. 18 Virginia Tech in the ACC title game and leapfrogged the Buckeyes in the final CFP standings to No. 2.Clemson finished No. 3 in The Associated Press Top 25 , a spot behind Ohio State.Led by dynamic quarterback Deshaun Watson, Clemson lost to Alabama in the national championship game last season in Arizona. Beat the Buckeyes in their return trip to the desert, the Tigers could get another shot at the top-ranked Crimson Tide, who play Washington in the Peach Bowl.To return out here to Arizona, we had a little taste of it last year and it was a quick trip, barely remember it, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. Were looking forward to having a better time this year.A few more things to look for in the Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium:THE QUARTERBACKS: Watson has been stellar again this season, putting his name in the running for the Heisman Trophy after throwing for 3,626 yards, rushing for 441 and accounting for 38 touchdowns. J.T. Barrett had some inconsistencies during the season, but still threw for 3,275 yards and 33 touchdowns with five interceptions. Both quarterbacks can extend plays with their mobility, which will make it tough on both defenses.THE SERIES: Clemson and Ohio State have played twice before, both in bowl games. They met in the 2014 Orange Bowl, which the Tigers won 40-35 after Sammy Watkins caught 16 passes for 227 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Clemson won the 1978 Gator Bowl over the Buckeyes 17-15 in Woody Hayes last game as Buckeyes coach.DEFENSE, DEFENSE!: For all the Tigers and Buckeyes can do on offense, its their defenses that do the most damage. Ohio State finished fourth nationally in total defense, allowing 282.3 yards per game, and Clemson was ninth at 313.9. Keep an eye on Ohio State freshman Nick Bosa and Clemson senior Ben Boulware -- both make plays all over the field.THE COACHES: Meyer has rebuilt the Buckeyes into a national power in five seasons in Columbus. A two-time national champion at Florida, he won another title with Ohio State after the 2014 season and the Buckeyes have won at least 11 games every season, including a perfect 12-0 record in 2012. Swinney has taken the Tigers to a bowl game in each of his nine seasons, winning at least 10 games the past six. The Tigers have reached the College Football Playoff under Swinney two of the three years it has existed.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.orgRoy White Yankees Jersey . Bjorn, who had a 36-hole total of 8-under 134, made a testing six-foot putt to save par on the 16th and a birdie on the 17th before bogeying the final hole after a misjudged approach shot. American Kevin Streelman was in second place after shooting a 69. Luke Voit Yankees Jersey .J. -- Seven games into a disappointing season, New York Giants defensive catalyst Jason Pierre-Paul is getting the feeling hes back. https://www.cheapyankees.com/2001g-jake-barrett-jersey-yankees.html . -- Former San Diego Chargers safety Paul Oliver was found dead at his Atlanta-area home Tuesday night, and a medical examiner said Wednesday that the ex-player committed suicide. 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Right-hander Jeremy Hellickson (6-6, 3.92 ERA) gets the start for the Phillies against right-hander Jacob deGrom (5-4, 2.61).Hellickson is 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA in his last three starts and deGrom is 2-0 with a 1.35 ERA in his last three.DeGrom and the ageless Bartolo Colon are, however, the only constants for a Mets rotation that has been wracked by injury -- a big reason the defending National League champions dropped their last three games before the break to fall to 47-41, leaving them in a second-place tie with Miami in the National League East.Matt Harvey recently underwent season-ending surgery to repair thoracic outlet syndrome, which according to clevelandclinic.org is a term used to describe a group of disorders that occur when there is compression, injury or irritation of the nerves and/or blood vessels (arteries and veins) in the lower neck and upper chest area.Right-hander Noah Syndergaard and left-hander Steven Matz have been plagued by bone spurs in their pitching elbows, and Syndergaard departed his July 8 start against Washington after 4 2/3 innings with what was described by the team as arm fatigue.Nor has the everyday lineup been spared from the spate of injuries. Third baseman David Wright is out, possibly for the season, after undergoing surgery to repair a herniated disk in his neck, and first baseman Lucas Duda is on the disabled lisst with a bad back.ddddddddddddOutfielder Yoenis Cespedes also missed the last two games before the break with a quadriceps strain.I said something to the coaches: Man, when do you think this is going to stop? Can things possibly get worse? manager Terry Collins said, according to NJ.com. And the next day, they continue to get worse.Neither Syndergaard nor Cespedes played in Tuesdays All-Star Game in San Diego, and Collins told the New York Post that he is hopeful Syndergaard can make his start next Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs. Cespedes status is less certain.I feel better, but Im not sure if Im going to play on Friday, Cespedes told reporters through a translator after missing Sundays loss to Washington.The Phillies, meanwhile, had the worst record in the majors last season (63-99) and dropped 26 of 32 games after getting off to a surprising 24-17 start this season. They won 12 of their last 17 before the break, however, to improve to 42-48, good enough for fourth place in the NL East.Their offense, dormant most of the season, was a big reason for the turnaround. Outfielder Peter Bourjoas has hit at a .408 clip in his last 18 games to raise his average from .217 to .274, and third baseman Maikel Franco has hit .400 in his last 16, bringing his average to .269. He also leads the team with 18 homers and 52 RBI.Center fielder Odubel Herrera, the teams lone All-Star representative, is slashing .294/.378/.427. Herrera, who leads the Phillies in average, on-base percentage and steals (12), also has 10 homers and 33 RBI. ' ' '