Ohio State loses second straight game, falls to Clemson, 40-35, in Orange Bowl

A member of the grounds crew cares for the grass before the game. OSU lost to Clemson in the Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium Jan. 3, 40-35. Credit: Shelby Lum / Photo editor

Clemson junior wide receiver Sammy Watkins reaches into his MVP trophy to throw his last orange to teammates. OSU lost to Clemson in the Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium Jan. 3, 40-35. Credit: Shelby Lum / Photo editor

Senior running back Carlos Hyde (34) catches the ball and runs it into the end zone for a touchdown. OSU lost to Clemson in the Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium Jan. 3, 40-35. Credit: Shelby Lum / Photo editor

Junior quarterback Braxton Miller (5) outruns a Clemson defender and carries the ball down the field. OSU lost to Clemson in the Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium Jan. 3, 40-35. Credit: Shelby Lum / Photo editor

Clemson wide receiver Sammy Watkins (2) pushes past junior linebacker Ryan Shazier (2). OSU lost to Clemson in the Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium Jan. 3, 40-35. Credit: Shelby Lum / Photo editor

Sophomore defensive lineman Adolphus Washington (92) stands up after tackling Clemson redshirt-senior quarterback Tajh Boyd (10). OSU lost to Clemson in the Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium Jan. 3, 40-35. Credit: Shelby Lum / Photo editor

Junior wide receiver Devin Smith (9) catches a pass and turns before falling to the ground. OSU lost to Clemson in the Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium Jan. 3, 40-35. Credit: Shelby Lum / Photo editor

Freshman running back Dontre Wilson (1) runs through Clemson defenders. OSU lost to Clemson in the Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium Jan. 3, 40-35. Credit: Shelby Lum / Photo editor

Junior linebacker Ryan Shazier (2) tackles junior wide receiver Sammy Watkins (2). OSU lost to Clemson in the Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium Jan. 3, 40-35. Credit: Shelby Lum / Photo editor

Senior running back Carlos Hyde (34) jumps out of the way of a Clemson defender. OSU lost to Clemson in the Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium Jan. 3, 40-35. Credit: Shelby Lum / Photo editor

Clemson junior wide receiver Martavis Bryant (left) catches a touchdown pass. OSU lost to Clemson in the Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium Jan. 3, 40-35. Credit: Shelby Lum / Photo editor

Sophomore linebacker Joshua Perry (37) runs in to tackle Clemson redshirt-senior quarterback Tajh Boyd (10) in his own end zone for a safety. OSU lost to Clemson in the Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium Jan. 3, 40-35. Credit: Shelby Lum / Photo editor

Senior running back Carlos Hyde (34) pushes his way toward the end zone. OSU lost to Clemson in the Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium Jan. 3, 40-35. Credit: Shelby Lum / Photo editor

Senior running back Carlos Hyde (34) catches the ball. OSU lost to Clemson in the Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium Jan. 3, 40-35. Credit: Shelby Lum / Photo editor

Redshirt-senior quarterback Kenny Guiton (13) looks for an open player for a two-point conversion; the play resulted in an incomplete pass. OSU lost to Clemson in the Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium Jan. 3, 40-35. Credit: Shelby Lum / Photo editor

Clemson redshirt-senior quarterback Tajh Boyd (10) breaks away and carries the ball. OSU lost to Clemson in the Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium Jan. 3, 40-35. Credit: Shelby Lum / Photo editor

Senior running back Carlos Hyde (34) carries the ball. OSU lost to Clemson in the Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium Jan. 3, 40-35. Credit: Shelby Lum / Photo editor

Junior quarterback Braxton Miller (5) is sacked by Clemson redshirt-junior defensive end Vic Beasley (3) on the play. OSU lost to Clemson in the Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium Jan. 3, 40-35. Credit: Shelby Lum / Photo editor

Coach Urban Meyer smiles at junior quarterback Braxton Miller (5) and junior tight end Jeff Heuerman (86) after Miller's first touchdown of the game. OSU lost to Clemson in the Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium Jan. 3, 40-35. Credit: Shelby Lum / Photo editor

Senior wide receiver Corey Brown (10) celebrates with junior tight end Jeff Heuerman (86) after Heuerman's touchdown. OSU lost to Clemson in the Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium Jan. 3, 40-35. Credit: Shelby Lum / Photo editor

Junior tight end Jeff Heuerman (86) runs into the end zone for a touchdown. OSU lost to Clemson in the Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium Jan. 3, 40-35. Credit: Shelby Lum / Photo editor

Junior quarterback Braxton Miller (5) pushes into the end zone for the first touchdown of the game. OSU lost to Clemson in the Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium Jan. 3, 40-35. Credit: Shelby Lum / Photo editor

Balloons in Clemson's colors float into the air during the game. OSU lost to Clemson in the Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium Jan. 3, 40-35. Credit: Shelby Lum / Photo editor

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Ohio State Buckeyes are officially on a losing streak.

OSU lost its second straight game after winning 24 in a row over the last two seasons since Urban Meyer took over as head coach, falling to No. 12 Clemson (11-2, 7-1) in the 2014 Discover Orange Bowl, 40-35.

Tiger quarterback, redshirt-senior Tajh Boyd, led a high-powered offense that amassed 576 total yards against the Buckeyes (12-2, 8-1) and the Clemson defense did enough down the stretch to win the game, turning junior quarterback Braxton Miller over twice in the game’s final three minutes.

“We’re not a championship-caliber defense right now, although we think about the last two games, we were in position to go win (those) games,” Meyer said following the loss. “Our defense certainly made some plays to help us go win a game.”

Boyd scored on the game’s first drive, running 48 yards up the middle for a touchdown. After Miller scored on a 33-yard run on OSU’s next possession, Boyd connected with junior wide receiver Sammy Watkins from 34 yards out.

“I don’t know all the receivers in the country, but I can’t imagine any better than that guy,” Meyer said of Watkins in a post game press conference.

Junior linebacker Ryan Shazier agreed, saying that Watkins “was just making plays.”

“We had to get leverage and was losing leverage, and he was just taking it up the sideline,” Shazier said following the loss. “It was getting guys out of position. If we had leverage, we could have shut him down a little bit more, but we just didn’t do it.”

Following a safety late in the first quarter, Boyd extended the lead to 20-9 after he found junior wide receiver Martavis Bryant on a three yard touchdown pass.

The Buckeyes quickly responded, as Miller threw a touchdown pass, and ran for another to give OSU a 22-20 lead at halftime.

The Buckeyes would score again on the first possession of the second half, when senior running back Carlos Hyde found the end zone from one-yard out to extend the lead to 29-20.

But a muffed punt by senior wide receiver Corey “Philly” Brown later in the third quarter lit a spark that led Clemson to score twice before the fourth quarter began. Boyd hit Watkins and then Bryant again to make the score 34-29.

OSU came back once again, when Miller hit Hyde from 14 yards out, and after a two-point play failed, OSU lead 35-34.

But Boyd led the Tigers back down the field, hitting redshirt-sophomore tight end Stanton Seckinger from five yards out to give Clemson the lead for good.

“It’s playing for these guys. I’ve learned so much and grown so much as a person since I’ve been here. And I can’t think of a better way to give back to school than a victory in this game,” Boyd said following the victory. “It was a very impressive victory for this team, this university. Can’t wait to celebrate with the guys.”

Miller fumbled on OSU’s next drive, but the Buckeye offense was given another shot when redshirt-senior safety C.J. Barnett picked off Boyd with just under 1:30 left.

Miller, however, threw his second interception of the game two plays later, sealing the win for Clemson.

Watkins was named the game’s Most Valuable Player, as he finished with Orange Bowl records of 16 catches for 227 yards and two touchdowns. Boyd was 31-40 passing for 378 yards and five touchdowns, also rushing for 127 yards for a touchdown.

“Tonight was just to go out there and have fun, go out with a bang, and get the 11-2 in back-to-back seasons and just finish off my legacy here and I definitely did that,” Watkins said about his performance during a post game press conference.

Miller finished with 234 passing yards and two touchdowns, while also scoring twice on the ground.

Looking ahead to next season, OSU is set to take on Navy Aug. 30 in Baltimore. For now, the loss will linger.

“Is this what we expect? No,” Meyer said, who lost his first BCS game of his career. “We expect top 10 defense at Ohio State, top 10 offense, and top 10 special teams, and I don’t believe we accomplished any of those.”

Junior wide receiver Sammy Watkins (2) pulls away as he runs with the ball. OSU lost against Clemson in the Orange Bowl Jan. 3, 40-35. Credit: Shelby Lum / Photo editor