Twenty minutes into the Fiesta Bowl, Ohio State was rolling.



The Buckeyes’ offense had put up 261 yards on their first 27 plays against Clemson. They’d grabbed a quick 13-0 lead against the best defense in the FBS. With 10 minutes left in the first half, Clemson had no choice but to adjust.



“We had to do something different,” Clemson safeties coach Mickey Conn said, “because they were going up and down the field on what we were trying to do otherwise.”



And so they turned to a tactic that’s worked all season long, one they’ve been developing ever since the spring. Back in April, Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables and his fellow defensive coaches traveled to Iowa State in search of solutions. During their visit, they talked ball with the Cyclones’ defensive staff, watched tape and stuck around to watch spring practice. And they gathered ideas that just might help them win another national...