Clemson sets records with demolition of Virginia in ACC championship game
CHARLOTTE – So this is what Clemson’s offense looks like when the starters play a little more than 2½ quarters.
No. 3 Clemson blitzed No. 22 Virginia with 31 first-half points and breezed to a record-setting 62-17 victory in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game on a chilly Saturday evening at Bank of America Stadium.Â
The Tigers determined Virginia’s fate in short order, scoring early and often and permitting quarterback Trevor Lawrence his most extensive playing time since late September.
Now the Tigers await their own fate.
On Sunday the Tigers will learn their College Football Playoff destination. Clemson, which entered the game ranked No. 3 in the CFP rankings, will play in either the Fiesta Bowl semifinal in Glendale, Arizona, or the Chick-fil-A Bowl semifinal in Atlanta.
Both games are set for Dec. 28.
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Clemson will head into the postseason with several notable streaks in tow, including:
• A 28-game winning streak that ranks as the longest active streak in the nation among Football Bowl Subdivision teams;
• Eight consecutive victories by 30 or more points – the longest in the AP poll era (since 1936);
• Five straight ACC Championship Game victories.
Clemson improved to 13-0 for a second straight year and is two victories away from its third national championship in four years. The Tigers became the ninth consecutive ACC Atlantic Division champion to win the ACC championship game.
Virginia, which became the seventh different Coastal Division representative in as many years, dropped to 9-4.
The Cavaliers became the first team this season to gain 300 or more yards against Clemson’s defense, but the suspense had long-since been removed by the time Virginia reached that mark.
Clemson’s first three touchdowns consumed all of 1:34, 1:36 and 1:24, respectively, off the game clock, repeatedly flashing its quick-strike capability.
