No. 1 Clemson pounds Miami to win ACC crown

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — No. 1 Clemson emphatically claimed its spot in the College Football Playoff with a 38-3 victory over No. 7 Miami in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game Saturday night.

The Tigers (12-1) came in ranked atop the CFP and should remain that way following today’s final poll after their decisive show left little doubt the defending national champs are looking to go back-to-back.

The Hurricanes (10-2, No. 7 CFP) have lost two straight after rising to No. 2 in the CFP two weeks ago.

BIG 12: In Arlington, Texas, Baker Mayfield threw four touchdown passes and No. 2 Oklahoma staked claim to a playoff spot with a 41-17 victory over No. 10 TCU TCU (10-3, No. 11 CFP) on Saturday in the return of the Big 12 championship game.

With their record 11th Big 12 title, the Sooners (12-1, No. 3) are a lock to get in the College Football Playoff.

SEC: In Atlanta, Jake Fromm threw two touchdown passes and No. 6 Georgia (12-1) defeated No. 4 Auburn (10-3) 28-7 in the Southeastern Conference championship game.

Auburn (10-3) was the hottest team in the country, rolling into Atlanta after wins over Georgia and then-No. 1 Alabama.

BIG TEN: In Indianapolis, J.T. Barrett threw two touchdown passes, ran for another and had a crucial fourthdown conversion late in the game to give the No. 8 Buckeyes a 27-21 victory over previously unbeaten No. 3 Wisconsin in the Big Ten championship game.

Ohio State (11-2) claimed its first conference crown since its 2014 national championship season. The loss ended the nation’s longest active winning streak at 13 and probably doomed the playoff hopes of the Badgers (12-1).

MWC: In Boise, Idaho, Brett Rypien threw for 246 yards and led a fourthquarter comeback to help Boise State (10-3) beat No. 25 Fresno State (9-4) 17-14 in the Mountain West championship game.

AAC: In Orlando, Fla., Otis Anderson scored on a 1-yard run on the first possession of the second overtime and Central Florida (12-0, CFP No. 15) beat Memphis 10-2, CFP No. 20) 62-55 for its third American Athletic Conference crown in five years.

C-USA: In Boca Raton, Fla., Devin Singletary ran for 164 yards and three touchdowns and Florida Atlantic (10-3) beat North Texas (9-4) to win its first Conference USA championship 41-17 in coach Lane Kiffin’s first season.

MAC: In Detroit, Logan Woodside threw four touchdown passes, Terry Swanson ran for 180 yards and two scores and Toledo (11-2) beat Akron (7-6) 45-28 in the Mid-American Conference championship game.