Dabo Swinney praises Shawn Elliott, USC's effort

The Tigers now head to the ACC title game at 12-0, and SC heads into the offseason with plenty of big questions looming. Do those three things and we will see the first undefeated regular season for Clemson since 1981.

Although fans can expect the Tigers to bring their A game, they are likely looking ahead to the ACC title game, which will be played against the North Carolina Tar Heels.

Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson tumbles into the end zone for a... SC added a final touchdown on an 11-yard pass from Orth to Carson with one second left.NOTES: Clemson has more victories against SC (67) than any other school.... This is a red flag for the CFP committee to consider when voting if Clemson retains its No. 1 ranking. The sophomore quarterback would score the difference maker to end a 10-play drive with 8:05 to go from three yards out.

Clemson Tigers rank at 11 for scoring 40.6 points where as South Carolina Gamecocks rank at 68 for allowing 27.4 scores.

Still, the Tigers went past 500 yards for an eighth straight game and did enough on defense to corral the struggling Gamecocks. I think he's the best player in the country.

Associated Press

Part of me wants to believe these Gamecocks can fight to the end like the A&M, Tennessee, and Florida games, but I wouldn't put money on it. On a potentially positive note, Chris Clark points out here that Clemson hasn't exactly blown out inferior opponents, beating Syracuse and Wake Forest by a combined 30 points. For a program whose history is marked by games that got away, Watson is proof things have changed. In the first quarter, they'd try to run the ball on us, but we'd stop them and that wasn't working. Of course, Deshaun Watson had a great deal to do with that, running one in from a few yards out and even capping it all off with a little flip.

The Gamecocks trimmed the Tigers lead late in the second quarter when SC kicker Elliott Fry striped a chip shot field goal to get USC on the board. Carolina now holds a 17-14 lead in the annual competition with Clemson.

If you ask Dabo Swinney, his Tigers are starting a new season Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium.

No. 2 Alabama 29, Auburn 13: Derrick Henry ran 46 times for 271 yards and Adam Griffith kicked five field goals to propel No. 2 Alabama to the SEC West title with a 29-13 victory over rival Auburn on Saturday in Auburn, Ala.

The downpour started on the Buckeyes' second possession when, two plays after a roughing the punter penalty at its own 9 extended the drive, Elliott rumbled 66 yards and Barrett walked in from seven yards out two snaps later. Henry, meanwhile, just did more of the same against Auburn (6-6, 2-6).

On defense, the Tigers have a sturdy unit led by B.J Goodson, who has 71 tackles.

Ohio State moved 82 yards in eight plays, capped by a highlight 25-yard Jalin Marshall Touchdown grab, to push the lead back to two scores.