Rivalry or not, Ohio State-Clemson have something unique no matter what you call it

That’s when Ohio State quarterback Art Schlichter was picked off by Clemson’s Charlie Bauman, who then absorbed a punch from legendary OSU coach Woody Hayes after going out of bounds in his vicinity.

Hayes was fired and 35 years passed before the programs would meet again, but now they are in the midst of one of the most unique series in the game whether one uses the “r” word (rivalry) or not.

No one has suggested it could rival Ohio State-Michigan, and Clemson receiver Amari Rodgers left no doubt the Buckeyes aren’t about to supplant South Carolina for the Tigers.

“It feels nothing like the South Carolina rivalry or any other games that we may see as a rivalry,” Rodgers said. “I feel like they have more beef with us than we have with them.”

That is hard to debate, and it is understandable.

Clemson has more wins against Ohio State without a loss than any other program, and all four have been significant in one way or another.

Of course, the Bauman play and Woody’s punch are etched in the memories of any Ohio State fan alive at the time, and everyone else has had plenty of opportunities to learn about them. Both are replayed frequently not only when the Buckeyes play the Tigers but often when Hayes is in the news for any reason.

But that sequence turned out to be more of a prologue for the present, which includes three games since the end of the 2013 season.

The Tigers beat Ohio State 40-35 in the Orange Bowl after the 2013 season, shut the Buckeyes out 31-0 in the Fiesta Bowl three years later and outlasted them 29-23 last season in another Fiesta Bowl clash.

That Orange Bowl helped launch the present-day Clemson juggernaut, and Ohio State has not been able to derail the Tigers championship train yet.

Seven years ago, Clemson was an up-and-comer — or perhaps a never-will-be.

The Tigers had logged double-digit wins in the previous two seasons but not finished in the top 10 of the polls since 1990.

In fact, then the Tigers were perhaps best known for losing games they shouldn’t, a phenomenon known as “Clemsoning,” as well as for giving up 70 points to West Virginia two years earlier in Orange Bowl.

Dabo Swinney was in his 50-23 in five-plus years as Clemson’s coach, but few expected he would soon turn his program into one that would rival his alma mater, Alabama.

While much of the conversation leading up to that game involved how long it would take second-year Ohio State coach Urban Meyer to have the Buckeyes playing for the national championship again, another major talking point involved whether or not second-year defensive coordinator Brent Venables could give Swinney’s team a stop unit to match his prolific offense.

In time, he did.

Clemson has ranked in the top 10 in total defense every year since the College Football Playoff began in 2014, and have allowed the second fewest points per possession in college football since Venables’ first season in 2012.

Back in that Orange Bowl, Clemson gave up 35 points but scored 40 as the Tigers ripped to shreds an Ohio State defense that had struggled much of the season, especially later in the year.

Tajh Boyd, a quarterback who was the subject of a major recruiting war between the Buckeyes and Tigers (as well as Oregon), accounted for 505 total yards and Sammy Watkins caught 16 passes for 227 yards as Clemson staked its claim to being a national powerhouse.

Since then, the Tigers have been chosen for the CFP six times and won it twice.

Ohio State is second in NCAA history with 930 wins, but Clemson has climbed the ladder up to No. 14 (768)

Ohio State is set to make its fourth appearance in the playoff, which the Buckeyes won in the first season.

Clemson is in the playoff for the sixth time with two championships, and the Tigers lead the nation in wins since 2015 with 79, 12 more than Ohio State.

So while Ohio State still has the superior history, Clemson has been better in recent times.

But is it a rivalry?

Perhaps Shaun Wade summed it up best.

“I characterize it as we never beat Clemson.” Ohio State’s All-American cornerback said this week.

Rodgers, who figures to see a lot of Wade on Friday night, seems to see it the same way.

“It’s just one of those teams that we’ve happened to play a lot since I’ve been here,” the Clemson receiver said. “They’re great games every single time, but I don’t see it as a rivalry.”

The most recent matchup between the teams ended like the first, with a crushing interception thrown by an Ohio State quarterback who was a highly coveted recruit.

While Schlichter never got another shot at Clemson, Justin Fields has relished the opportunity.

“It’s pretty self explanatory,” said Fields, who was picked off by Nolan Turner in the closing minutes last season after a miscommunication with receiver Chris Olave. “That game hurt us a lot last year, so that’s kind of been our whole motivation this whole offseason, just getting a chance to play those guys again, getting this opportunity.”