Another Clemson Championship: Tigers dominate Virginia to set up playoff run
After four consecutive ACC championships and a pair of national titles, Dabo Swinney continued to claim that the best was yet to come for his Clemson program.
As it turns out he was right.
The Tigers completed a dominant run through the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2019 with another record-breaking performance Saturday, blasting Virginia 62-17 for Clemson’s fifth consecutive ACC Championship.
With the win, Clemson joins Oklahoma (2015-19) and Alabama (1971-75) as the only members of any active FBS conference to win five straight outright conference titles. The Tigers also clinched a spot in the College Football Playoff for the fifth straight year.
“This never gets old. This is what it’s all about, and just a special, special time. This team has prepared, they’ve trained, and they’ve believed all year for this moment,” Swinney said. “So to see it come to fruition is pretty special. To win our fifth ACC title game in a row and make college football history is really cool, and not something we set out to do, it’s just something that’s happened.”
Clemson will likely face either Ohio State, Oklahoma or LSU in a CFP semifinal. The Tigers will either travel to Atlanta or Phoenix for that game. Clemson will learn its playoff fate at noon Sunday on ESPN during the CFP selection show.
“Hopefully this will get us in the final four,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney quipped in his on-air postgame interview Saturday night.
Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence and receiver Tee Higgins were unstoppable in the win as Lawrence passed for 302 yards and four touchdowns, while Higgins caught nine passes for 182 yards and three scores. Neither player played in the fourth quarter as the Tigers built a huge lead.
Higgins was named the game’s MVP for his performance. He broke the ACC Championship game record for receiving yards and touchdowns with his incredible night.
He also tied Sammy Watkins and DeAndre Hopkins for the most touchdown receptions in school history with 27.
“He’s just really, really worked his tail off from a fundamental standpoint, a technique standpoint, physical standpoint, his knowledge of the game, and he’s just become a very talented route runner,” Swinney said. “He’s got some freaky ball skills. He can make any type of catch. He’s got kind of DeAndre Hopkins type ball skills. He’s got Mike Williams length. But he’s got some explosiveness to him, as well.”
Lawrence also set several records in the game, including the most touchdown passes in an ACC title game. He now has 3,172 passing yards, 34 touchdowns and eight interceptions on the year.
The sophomore has 20 touchdowns and no interceptions in his last six games.
“I feel like I’m playing a lot better than I was early in the season,” Lawrence said. “I think we’re playing our best ball right now. The best is still in front of us. This is right where we want to be, and as long as we get a chance to prove we’re the best I think we’ve got a good shot.”
Clemson led 31-7 at halftime and cruised from that point forward.
Tigers running back Travis Etienne had 14 carries for 114 yards and a touchdown, while his backup Lyn-J Dixon had eight carries for 47 yards, including a 23-yard touchdown.
Defensively Isaiah Simmons and K’Von Wallace led Clemson with nine tackles each, while Simmons and Nolan Turner recorded interceptions. Wallace, a Virginia native, shined during a game that he described as “personal” earlier in the week.
“Virginia is a great school, great program, great culture. What they do there, I wouldn’t be surpised if they return back next year,” Wallace said. “But our time is now and I live for today.”
Virginia did become the first team all season to reach 300 yards of offense against Clemson, led by Bryce Perkins who passed for 266 yards and rushed for 58.
“We’re going to enjoy this one tonight. Then we need everyone to buy some tickets and travel to wherever we’re going,” Swinney said.
NEXT CLEMSON GAME
Who: Clemson vs. TBA
When: Saturday, Dec. 28
Where: Either the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl (Atlanta) or Fiesta Bowl (Phoenix)
When is the College Football Playoff announcement?
Clemson will learn its playoff fate at noon Sunday on ESPN during the CFP selection show.
Matt Connolly: MattatTheState
Clemson Virginia box score, game stats
Virginia | 7 | 0 | 7 | 3 | — | 17 |
Clemson | 14 | 17 | 14 | 17 | — | 62 |
First Quarter
CLE—Higgins 19 pass from Lawrence (Potter kick), 11:11.
UVA—Dubois 20 pass from Perkins (Delaney kick), 6:22.
CLE—Ross 59 pass from Lawrence (Potter kick), 4:46.
Second Quarter
CLE—FG Potter 47, 13:23.
CLE—Etienne 26 run (Potter kick), 9:10.
CLE—Higgins 7 pass from Lawrence (Potter kick), :49.
Third Quarter
UVA—Jana 8 pass from Perkins (Delaney kick), 8:21.
CLE—Higgins 11 pass from Lawrence (Potter kick), 6:12.
CLE—L.Dixon 23 run (Potter kick), 1:00.
Fourth Quarter
UVA—FG Delaney 35, 13:11.
CLE—FG Potter 24, 10:45.
CLE—Brice 4 run (Potter kick), 8:13.
CLE—Mellusi 4 run (Potter kick), 1:26.
UVA | CLE | |
First downs | 23 | 28 |
Rushes-yards | 27-104 | 38-211 |
Passing | 283 | 408 |
Comp-Att-Int | 30-48-3 | 21-29-0 |
Return Yards | 76 | 36 |
Punts-Avg. | 5-39.8 | 1-30.0 |
Fumbles-Lost | 2-0 | 1-0 |
Penalties-Yards | 3-27 | 4-25 |
Time of Possession | 33:14 | 26:46 |
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—Virginia, Perkins 17-58, Taulapapa 8-43, Armstrong 2-3. Clemson, Etienne 14-114, L.Dixon 8-47, Lawrence 6-24, Dukes 3-10, Brice 2-8, Mellusi 3-7, Rencher 1-3, (Team) 1-(minus 2).
PASSING—Virginia, Griffin 1-1-0-2, Perkins 27-43-2-266, Armstrong 2-4-1-15. Clemson, Lawrence 16-22-0-302, Brice 5-7-0-106.
RECEIVING—Virginia, Dubois 10-130, Kemp 9-66, Jana 6-62, Cowley 2-10, Taulapapa 1-10, Brissett 1-3, Mitchell 1-2. Clemson, Higgins 9-182, Ross 3-94, W.Swinney 3-38, Ladson 1-57, Overton 1-19, Allen 1-11, Etienne 1-9, Price 1-5, L.Dixon 1-(minus 7).
MISSED FIELD GOALS—Clemson, Potter 52.
This story was originally published December 7, 2019 at 11:01 PM.
