[cointent_lockedcontent]Courtesy Clemson

Athletic Communications

news@thepccourier.com

CLEMSON — Just days after they were ranked No. 1 in the first College Football Playoff rankings of the 2015 season, the Clemson Tigers overcame a first-half deficit to knock off No. 15 Florida State and clinch the ACC Atlantic Division title in front of a deafening crowd of 83,099 fans at Memorial Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

A day after the 23-13 win, the Tigers were ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press poll for the first time since winning the program’s only national championship in January 1982 and only the third time in school history.

Rex Brown/Courtesy The Journal
Clemson’s Adrian Baker goes up to make an interception in the first quarter of Saturday’s game against Florida State.

Against the Seminoles, Clemson overcame its first halftime deficit of the season to capture the division for the first time since 2011 and improved to 9-0 on the season.

“We had help from all phases tonight,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said. “When we had mistakes, we picked each other up. There was no panic. There was some frustration in the first half, but the will to win and the fight was there.

“Our team loves each other, and that’s what it takes. Tonight was a tremendous team effort from everyone. That’s what it takes if you’re going to win a championship.”

A low-scoring first half left the Tigers looking for a change in fortune heading into the second half. The offense got what it was looking for early in the third quarter with a touchdown pass from Deshaun Watson to Deon Cain to put the Tigers on top 13-10.

Watson — who has found himself firmly in the conversation for the Heisman Trophy — set a career high in both completions (28) and passing attempts (42), as well as a career high with 107 rushing yards. Watson’s 107 yards on the ground also marked the first time a Tiger quarterback had more than 100 rushing yards since Tajh Boyd ran for 127 yards in a 40-35 win over Ohio State in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 3, 2014.

The Tiger defense came out to make a statement after halftime adjustments, forcing two turnovers and one sack. Their efforts allowed the offense to come in and capitalize, pulling away from a 13-13 tie score thanks to Greg Huegel’s third field goal of the game with 7:23 left in the fourth quarter.

In a crucial moment, Ben Boulware and former Daniel High School standout Shaq Lawson stopped Florida State star Dalvin Cook on a fourth-and-one play, allowing the offense to take over on the Seminole 40. Watson then made clutch plays on consecutive third downs with completions to Charone Peake, who converted both for first downs. The offense capped off the game-clinching drive with a 25-yard rushing touchdown by Wayne Gallman.

Boulware and B.J. Goodson worked together to cause a turnover late in the fourth quarter to give the Tiger offense possession. The offense eventually took a knee and sealed the victory.

In addition to climbing atop the AP poll on Sunday with 31 first-place votes — 25 more than in the previous week and five ahead of second-place Ohio State — Clemson also jumped three spots to No. 2 in the USA Today coaches poll.

Ohio State had held the top spot in the AP poll in each of the first 10 weeks of the 2015 season after becoming the first team in the poll’s history to be a unanimous preseason No. 1, but Saturday’s 23-13 win over Florida State was enough to convince voters the Tigers were deserving of the top billing.

Clemson joins Ohio State, Baylor, Oklahoma State, Iowa and Houston as the only undefeated FBS teams in the nation.

The Tigers’ next contest is set for Saturday at Syracuse. Kickoff time is set for 3:30 p.m. in the Carrier Dome, and the game will be televised by ABC.

Clemson will enter the game with a 12-game winning streak, the second longest active winning streak in the nation. Only defending national champion Ohio State has a longer streak with 22 straight wins.

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