Like the opening chapters of the Super Bowl, the College Football Playoff has been largely defined by overhyped matchups decided long before the fourth quarter begins.

Through five years, only two of the 10 semifinal games have been decided by single digits. Two ended with a shutout. Five were decided by 20 or more points.

Like the Super Bowl, change will eventually come. Perhaps this year, for the first time, we may finally be lucky enough to witness back-to-back classics.

Clemson Tigers (-2) over Ohio State Buckeyes: It has been nearly 24 months since the Tigers last tasted defeat. The 28 straight wins mark the sport’s fifth-longest streak since 1971. Trevor Lawrence hasn’t lost since high school. Even if Justin Fields’ left knee were 100 percent, the Buckeyes wouldn’t topple the reigning champs.

Experience matters. This time of year, Clemson should hold the respect Alabama monopolized for a decade. Appearing in its fifth straight playoff, the Tigers haven’t suffered a postseason loss to any coach but Nick Saban, who Dabo Swinney dealt the most humiliating loss of his career last year. It is what propelled the reigning champs into the summer as the unanimous top team in the nation.

A weak ACC schedule — out of Clemson’s control — shouldn’t blur what should still be clear.

The coaching staff which handed Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes a 31-0 beating three years back and then captured a pair of national championships remains. Lawrence, who threw for 674 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions as a true freshman in last year’s postseason, hasn’t thrown a pick in six games. The defense ranks first in the nation.

Clearly, Chase Young and the highest-scoring offense in the nation will present problems on both sides of the ball. The Buckeyes deserve to be the No. 2 seed. But Clemson will relish the chance to finally show it is still No. 1.

Oklahoma Sooners (+13½) over LSU Tigers: Experience will help the Sooners, too. Just not enough to pull the upset.

Following back-to-back semifinal losses, Oklahoma returns to the playoff for the third straight year under third-year coach Lincoln Riley. His quarterback, Jalen Hurts, is even better prepared, having played in three straight national championship games and twice helped Alabama take down LSU.

Though Hurts may not be able to match Heisman winner Joe Burrow pass for pass, the dual-threat will create endless problems for an LSU defense which allowed 212 rushing yards and four touchdowns to Ole Miss’ freshman quarterback John Rhys Plumlee last month. Burrow’s heroics will be needed again to bail out a defense which surrendered a total of 79 points in a pair of one-score wins against the two-highest scoring offenses it played this season (Alabama, Texas).

Riley’s offenses have put up a total of 82 points in the past two semifinals versus two of the sport’s best defensive minds (Saban, Kirby Smart) and this season’s 41-point-per-game attack should have no trouble meeting its average.

The Sooners have never lost by two touchdowns under Riley. Even against the rare offense superior to their own, that streak will be safe.