(4) OKLAHOMA VERSUS (1) CLEMSON

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The paths for Clemson and Oklahoma to the College Football Playoff were relatively similar: score a ton of points and ride the arm (and legs) of their signal caller. But the paths taken by Deshaun Watson and Baker Mayfield to college football stardom couldn't have been more different. This time two years ago, Watson was the No. 1 QB prospect in the nation; Mayfield was a walk-on for Texas Tech who wound up winning the starting job and Big 12 Freshman of the Year. Then Watson suffered through a sub-par freshman season at Clemson with a bum knee then a torn ACL, while Mayfield transferred after not being offered a scholarship and sat out a year at Oklahoma. But during their bouts with adversity, both quarterbacks had something in common: coaches who believed in them. On New Year's Eve, in the Capital One Orange Bowl (4 p.m. ET, ESPN), their paths will cross for the first time, and they will share one more thing -- a shot to play for a national championship.