CELEBRATION TIME

Kent State: The Golden Flashes did not attempt a pass in 25 first-half plays, despite facing a third-and-28 at one point. Their quarterbacks completed one pass in five attempts for a yard. Kent State used four quarterbacks last year, averaging just 141.7 yards a game passing. Only seven other Football Bowl Subdivision teams threw for less.

“We wanted to utilize the clock as much as we could in our favor,” said offensive coordinator Don Treadwell, who is filling in while head coach Paul Haynes is on medical leave.

Defensive coordinator Brent Venables said he was stunned Kent State didn’t pass it more since The Tigers stuffed run-first teams last year, including holding Georgia Tech’s option offensive to 95 rushing yards.

“They must not have watched that Georgia Tech film,” Venables said.

Clemson: The Tigers’ 665 yards were more than they did in any game in the 2016 season. Sure, it was against Kent State but after losing top receiver Mike

The Golden Flashes were paid $800,000 to play Clemson. Interim coach Don Treadwell said he would talk to Haynes when he got back to Ohio to see what might need changing. This is the second year in a row Kent State has played the defending national champions. The Golden Flashes lost to Alabama 48-0 in 2016.

The Tigers celebrated their second national title one last time before the game and at halftime. The Tiger mascot ran the championship trophy down the hill before the game, the school unveiled three different signs around the stadium marking the playoff appearance and title, and the band did a “31-0” formation to honor the score in Clemson’s demolition of Ohio State in the national semifinals.

UP NEXT

The Golden Flashes host Football Championship Subdivision Howard next Saturday.

The Tigers host No. 12 Auburn. Swinney is 11-8 all-time against SEC teams (with five of those losses to South Carolina) and 5-2 against the SEC since the start of 2014.

Kent State: Clemson: