LOUISVILLE, Ky. — No. 3 Clemson defeated No. 14 Louisville 47-21 at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium in a pivotal early-season ACC Atlantic Division showdown.
It also marked another big-game victory for Clemson quarterback Kelly Bryant, who continues to make a name for himself by making the big play. Bryant has led the Tigers to victories against ranked teams in back-to-back weeks.
MORE: Week 3 highlights, scores
The Tigers are once again in control in the ACC with the help of a nasty defense. Louisville and defending Heisman Trophy-winner Lamar Jackson face an uphill battle on both fronts now. There is no margin for error to get back in the race.
Here are five things we learned:
More dominant defense
We knew the Tigers' defense was good, but what they are doing right now borders on unfair. Louisville had eight drives in the first half. Three ended in three-and-outs, and three more ended in four-and-outs. Aside from a quick-fire 95-yard drive led by Jackson's 30-yard run, the Tigers didn't allow Louisville's offense to get in a rhythm in the first half.
That allowed Clemson to build a 19-7 lead. Linebacker Dorian O'Daniel added to that with a 44-yard interception return for a touchdown, which came just two plays after a long run by Jackson was negated by a Louisville penalty.
Clemson can't just dictate games with its defense. It can win them.
Kelly Bryant, the a hero
Bryant rolled up 273 yards of offense in the first half — more than twice as many as Jackson at 130. Bryant made the big plays: a 40-yard pass on a post corner to Hunter Renfrow set up Clemson's first touchdown, and a 79-yard touchdown to Ray-Ray McCloud with 4:06 remaining in the half gave the Tigers a 16-7 lead.
Bryant played smart on third down, didn't make the big mistake and outdueled a Heisman Trophy winner. He scored twice on the ground, too, the second coming with 2:16 remaining in the third quarter for a 33-7 lead that sent Louisville fans to the exits early.
It was an impressive showing.
MORE: No more doubting: Kelly Bryant is Clemson's QB
McCloud emerges as viable weapon
Clemson has been banking on the former five-star recruit to become a big-time playmaker, and McCloud obliged against the Cardinals. McCloud blew past the secondary for a wide-open catch on the 79-yard touchdown, and he's becoming another reliable option in the passing game for Bryant, along with veteran Hunter Renfrow.
Tavien Feaster also took advantage of his carrries, and a 22-yard run in the third quarter set up the dagger touchdown. Clemson's Adam Choice piled on a 39-yard touchdown run.
Jackson's uphill climb
Who cares about the Heisman? That will be the focal point after Jackson's rough night against the Tigers, but the key for the junior quarterback is keeping the Cardinals in the ACC hunt. Remember, Louisville was 9-1 on Nov. 17, 2016, before the three-game slide against Houston, Kentucky and LSU derailed the season.
Jackson's task will be to keep the Cardinals in the hunt, and if that takes video game numbers that keep him in the Heisman hunt as a finalist, that's fine. Without a little help, however, Louisville might be playing for second place in the ACC Atlantic the rest of the way.
Tigers' big-game prize
Clemson won the big-game purse for Week 3, following Alabama in Week 1 and Oklahoma in Week 2. Mix-and-match those three teams in any order — they are the three best teams in the nation right now. Clemson proved its big-game mettle on the road with an impressive two-way performance in the face of a "Blackout.” Bryant's continued development will be the key through the meat of the ACC schedule. That continues next week against Boston College before what could be another top-10 showdown against Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va. Swinney has a saying for these kind of games.
How does it go again?
They brought those on Saturday, and then some.
