North Carolina vs. Clemson

Their College Football Playoff status won’t be formally confirmed until Sunday afternoon, but Clemson has reigned supreme atop the CFP rankings for the past five weeks. Williams, who has thrown 18 scoring passes, has four receivers who have accumulated at least 25 catches and 435 yards, with Mack Hollins (26, 670, eight touchdowns) leading the way. North Carolina’s recovery was negated when referees called the play offside.

Though the Clemson defense did an excellent job of shutting down North Carolina, which came in averaging 41 points and 495 yards a game, the Tigers did give up a few big plays. After a UNC punt, Deshaun Watson got the ball and threw a pick.

North Carolina was ideal in between, winning 11 straight.

When asked to make his case for the Heisman on the field after Saturday’s game, Watson obliged. The Tigers trounced the Sooners 40-6 in a game that did not feature Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson and Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield. “And we’re 13-0”, a grinning Clemson Coach Dabo Swinney said.

Williams finished the half 3-of-12 for 50 yards and two touchdowns.

But Clemson drove 68 yards for a touchdown with just two seconds remaining in the first half, reclaiming a lead it would not relinquish.

During the post-game celebration, Deshaun Watson did the Heisman Trophy pose for the Tiger fans.

KEY STAT: UNC’s 9-7 advantage after the first quarter marked just the second time all season Clemson had trailed after 15 minutes, joining a 7-3 deficit in an eventual win against Florida State on November 15.

North Carolina had a couple of late touchdowns, and recovered a late onside kick that would have given it a final possession to tie.

The next UNC drive, Elijah Hood ran it in from 2 yards out for the score to make it a 42-30 Clemson lead. “They were wrong. That’s all I’m going to say about it”. With a whopping 57 plays in the first half (and an ACC championship game-record 98 in the game), the Tigers didn’t have a ton of points on the board – leading 21-16 at the half – but they managed to take some wind from Carolina’s defense. That brought Henry’s rushing total for the season to 1,986 yards, breaking the record for a Southeastern Conference running back previously set by Georgia’s Herschel Walker in 1981.

“We were a little sloppy defensively, especially in the second half”, said Clemson linebacker Ben Boulware. Nick Weiler’s 34-yard field goal capped a nine-play, 58-yard drive.

Up by three scores at that point, the Tigers went into cruise control the rest of the way-much like the Tar Heels have done all year long.

With a 35-16 lead and the ball, it looked good for Clemson until North Carolina defensive tackle Nazair Jones intercepted a Watson pass and the Tar Heels closed within 35-23.

After UNC got the ball to start the 2nd half, Marquise Williams led the Tar Heels all the way to the Clemson three yard line before being picked off. Clemson took that opportunity and made the most out of it as they marched down the turf.

“A lot of people thought we were going to come out here and just lay an egg, but we didn’t”, said Williams, who played high school football in Charlotte.