Clemson edges Va. Tech, 42-35
QB Watson accounts for 5 TDs; No. 1 Ala., No. 9 Okla. also win titles
Deshaun Watson bolstered his Heisman Trophy candidacy by passing for three touchdowns and running for two to lead third-ranked Clemson to a 42-35 victory over No. 23 Virginia Tech in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game Saturday night.
Winning consecutive league titles for the first time in 28 years likely will send the Tigers (12-1) back to the four-team College Football Playoff for the second straight year, providing Watson with an opportunity to resolve unfinished business from last January, when his team lost to Alabama in the national championship game.
Watson’s counterpart, Virginia Tech’s Jerod Evans, was just as impressive. The 6-foot-3, 238-pound quarterback ran for two touchdowns and rallied the Hokies from a 21-point deficit to make it close at the end.
Virginia Tech (9-4) scored on three straight possessions, trimming what was a 35-14 deficit to seven points on Evans’ 5-yard run early in the fourth quarter and Cam Phillips’ 26-yard touchdown reception with just under six minutes left.
NO. 1 ALABAMA 54, NO. 15 FLORIDA 16: The Crimson Tide (13-0) scored off a blocked punt and an interception return before wearing down the Gators (8-4) in the second half with a dominant running game in the Southeastern Conference championship game in Atlanta.
The victory positioned Alabama to go for its second straight national title and its fifth in the past nine years under coach Nick Saban. Next up: a likely College Football Playoff semifinal at the Georgia Dome on Dec. 31.
The Crimson Tide bolted to a 16-9 lead in the first quarter, despite being held to minus-7 yards and no first downs. They scored one touchdown off a blocked punt, another off an interception return. A field goal was set up by another pick.
NO. 9 OKLAHOMA 38, NO. 10 OKLAHOMA STATE 20: Baker Mayfield passed for 288 yards and three touchdowns, and the Sooners (10-2, 9-0) defeated the Cowboys (9-3, 7-2) in Norman in a matchup that decided the Big 12 champion and likely guaranteed Oklahoma a trip to the Sugar Bowl.
Mayfield performed well throughout, despite finishing the game without Biletnikoff Award finalist Dede Westbrook. The speedster caught four passes for 111 yards before being knocked out of the game in the second quarter on a crushing hit by safety Jordan Sterns. Mayfield threw two touchdown passes after Westbrook left the game, and the offense finished with 629 yards.
NO. 16 WEST VIRGINIA 24, BAYLOR 21: Skyler Howard threw two touchdown passes and ran for an additional score, and the host Mountaineers held on for a victory over the Bears in their Big 12 regular-season finale.
Justin Crawford rushed for 209 yards to help West Virginia (10-2, 7-2) to its first 10-win regular season since 2007. The Mountaineers came from 11 points down in the first half to hand Baylor (6-6, 3-6) its sixth straight loss.
KANSAS STATE 30, TEXAS CHRISTIAN 6: Jesse Ertz ran for a career-high 170 yards with a touchdown and threw an 83-yard scoring pass as the visiting Wildcats (8-4, 6-3 Big 12) ended their regular season with a win over the Horned Frogs (6-6, 4-5).
GRAMBLING STATE 27, ALCORN STATE 20: The Tigers (11-1, 9-0) overcame a 17-point halftime deficit to defeat the Braves (5-6, 5-4) in the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game in Houston.
WESTERN KENTUCKY 58, LOUISIANA TECH 44: Anthony Wales rushed for 209 yards and four touchdowns, Mike White threw for 421 and three more scores and the Hilltoppers (10-3) defeated the Bulldogs (8-5) in the Conference USA championship game in Bowling Green, Ky.
SAN DIEGO STATE 27, WYOMING 24: Rashaad Penny rushed for 117 yards and two touchdowns, and Donnel Pumphrey added 110 yards and one touchdown as the Aztecs (10-3) beat the host Cowboys (8-5) for their second consecutive Mountain West Conference championship.
NO. 4 WASHINGTON 41, NO. 8 COLORADO 10: Taylor Rapp returned one of his two interceptions for a touchdown and Myles Gaskin ran for 159 yards to help the Huskies (12-1, 8-1) strengthen their case for a playoff berth with a victory over the Buffaloes (10-3, 8-1) in the Pac-12 Conference championship game Friday night in Santa Clara, Calif.
NO. 17 WESTERN MICHIGAN 29, OHIO 23: Robert Spillane intercepted a pass with 51 seconds remaining, and the Broncos (13-0, 8-0) remained undefeated, holding off the Bobcats (8-5, 6-2) on Friday night in Detroit to win their first Mid-American Conference title since 1988.