Player of the game: If it wasn’t for Watson, Clemson’s national title hopes might have been doomed by SC.
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Clemson still ranks tops in the country, they’re going to be in the playoffs if they pick up a win here against SC and take care of business in the ACC title game.
The top-ranked Tigers are skilled across the board, but the sophomore’s uncanny ability to make the crucial play during the most hard circumstances continued to be the main reason the team is 12-0 after Saturday’s 37-32 win at SC.
Although fans can expect the Tigers to bring their A game, they are likely looking ahead to the ACC title game, which will be played against the North Carolina Tar Heels. Perine had touchdown runs of 68 and 25 yards, and Mixon added a 66-yard scoring run in the half. Shon Carson bullied his way in for the 1-yard line and Lorenzo Nunez converted a two-point conversion to pull SC within 28-25.
STYLE POINTS: Count on Clemson sticking it to SC should it have the chance to protect its place atop the College Football Playoff rankings – and enhance the Heisman Trophy chances of quarterback Deshaun Watson.
In what was supposed to be a bounce-back season for SC, the only consistency the Gamecocks could find down the stretch was struggling gamely in defeat.
If Clemson is victorious on Sunday, the Tigers will host a national quarterfinal game on Friday. Gallman coughed up the ball after a hit by Skai Moore, then Watson mishandled an exchange with Gallman that Dante Sawyer pounced on.
The South Carolina Gamecocks have the nation’s top defense, with a defensive rating of 99.2. Watson ran for three touchdowns and a career-best 114 yards in the win over SC.
Spurrier has not attended any of the Gamecocks’ home contests and is not expected to be at Williams-Brice Stadium on Saturday. Alongside Deshaun Watson, Alabama running back Derrick Henry, Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield, and Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey are in the race.
Watson never lets you see him sweat and plays with a joy for the game that’s never exaggerated or overstated to where he gets outside his rhythm. Henry, meanwhile, just did more of the same against Auburn (6-6, 2-6). He has also rushed for 642 yards and six touchdowns on the season, but his stats aren’t the most impressive part of his game. The Tigers would orchestrate a 12-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a rushing touchdown by CJ Fuller from four yards out.
Tulane fires coach: Tulane has fired coach Curtis Johnson after the Green Wave finished their third losing season in four years under the New Orleans native.
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J.T. Barrett, who had 19 carries for a season-high 139 yards, started the scoring with a 7-yard run late in the first quarter.
