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The No.3 Ohio State will be without two starters and several other key reserves against No.2 Clemson in Friday’s college football playoff semifinals at the Allstate Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.
Starting goaltender Harry Miller and running back Master Teague III are both absent, according to the team’s availability report. Defensive end Zach Harrison, who has two sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss in a reserve role, will also miss the game, as will defensive lineman Tyler on Friday.
Clemson has announced defensive end Xavier Thomas will miss the game. Thomas was on “protocols,” coach Dabo Swinney said earlier in the week. Thomas, who was diagnosed with COVID-19 in the spring, has 3.5 sacks and four tackles for loss in seven games (one start).
Teague started each of Ohio State’s first six games, while Miller started all but the Michigan State game. Teague leads Ohio State in both carries (89) and touchdowns (6), although Trey Sermon has recently emerged with 443 rushing yards in his last two games, including a record breaking Team 331 against Northwestern in the Big Ten Championship game. Freshman Miyan Williams will likely see increased action behind Sermon vs. Clemson.
The state of Ohio does not list the reasons for player absences, although several Buckeyes who appeared on previous availability reports later confirmed that they had tested positive for COVID-19. All-star wide receiver Chris Olave, starting linebacker Baron Browning and top bettor Drue Chrisman, who all missed the Big Ten championship game against Northwestern, did not appear in Friday’s report and are expected to play.
Olave has 36 receptions for 528 yards and five touchdowns, while Browning ranks third on the team with 23 tackles, and has a forced fumble and a recovered fumble.
Safety Ronnie Hickman, who has five tackles this season, will be a game-time decision for Ohio State. Starting quarterback Justin Fields, who injured his thumb in his hand in the Big Ten title game, is not included in the report.
Clemson completed his COVID-19 tests before heading to New Orleans. The state of Ohio, under Big Ten protocols, underwent a final round of testing Friday morning.
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