Clemson holds off Va. Tech for ACC title
Deshaun Watson passed for 288 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 85 yards and two more scores, and No. 3 Clemson escaped with a 42- 35 victory Saturday against No. 23 Virginia Tech in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game in Orlando, Florida.
The Tigers ( 12- 1) led 35- 14 in the third quarter before the Hokies ( 9- 4) mounted a frantic comeback. Virginia Tech scored on three consecutive possessions to pull to 42- 35 and had the ball at Clemson’s 23 with a chance to force overtime in the closing moments before the Tigers’ Cordrea Tankersley intercepted a pass on fourthand- six to seal the victory.
Winning back- to- back ACC titles for the first time in 28 years likely will send Clemson to the College Football Playoff for the second consecutive season. The Tigers lost to Alabama in the championship game last season.
Oklahoma 38, Oklahoma State 20
Baker Mayfield passed for 288 yards and three touchdowns, and the No. 9 Sooners ( 10- 2, 9- 0) defeated the No. 10 Cowboys ( 9- 3, 7- 2) in Norman in a game that decided the Big 12 champion. After the game, Mayfield announced he will return to school for his senior season.
Samaje Perine ran for 239 yards on 37 carries for Oklahoma, which amassed 629 yards of total offense on its way to winning its 10th Big 12 title under coach Bob Stoops.
Mayfield turned in a strong effort despite finishing the game without top receiver Dede Westbrook. Westbrook caught four passes for 111 yards before leaving the game with a concussion in the second quarter.
This and that
Notre Dame receiver Corey Holmes said he plans to transfer after graduating this summer, becoming the third Irish player to announce his plans to leave after a disappointing 4- 8 season. Backup quarterback Malik Zaire and backup offensive lineman John Montelus previously said they were transferring.
Houston athletic director Hunter Yurachek said former Baylor coach Art Briles isn’t a candidate to be the Cougars’ next coach. Baylor fired Briles this year after an investigation found he and other university leaders didn’t respond appropriately to allegations of sexual assault.
West Virginia announced a five- year, $ 18.6 million contract extension for coach Dana Holgorsen after the No. 16 Mountaineers’ 24- 21 victory against Baylor in Morgantown, West Virginia.
Sun- Times wires