Clemson vs. Miami: Tigers dominate in ACC championship game

E.Jay Zarett

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Clemson vs. Miami: Tigers dominate in ACC championship game image

The Clemson Tigers captured their third straight ACC title with a dominant victory over the Miami Hurricanes on Saturday night at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.

No. 1 Clemson jumped out to an early lead, carried a 21-point advantage into halftime and never looked back, cruising to the 38-3 win. The victory seemingly clinches the top spot in the College Football Playoff for Clemson — the defending national champions.

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Kelly Bryant tallied 252 passing yards and scored two total touchdowns to lead Clemson, while four different Tigers recorded rushing touchdowns. The Tigers also forced three second-half turnovers.

Malik Rosier registered just 110 passing yards in the game for No. 7 Miami and the Hurricanes picked up just 10 first downs.

Sporting News provided live updates throughout Saturday’s game. Here’s how Clemson came away with the ACC title (all times Eastern) . 

Clemson vs. Miami score, results, higlights

Final score: Clemson 38, Miami 3

11:30 p.m.: We’ve gone final in Charlotte. Clemson runs out the clock and secures the 38-3 win.

11:23 p.m.: Miami kicks a meaningless field goal from 22-yards away and ends the shutout. Clemson leads 38-3 with 3:29 remaining. 

11:16 p.m.: Clemson and Miami alternate three-and-outs. The Tigers currently have it at their 20 with 8:29 to play.

11:08 p.m.: Zerrick Cooper becomes the third quarterback to enter the game for Clemson tonight.

11:04 p.m.: Malik Rosier throws an incomplete pass on third down and Miami punts. There’s 11:36 to play.

10:59 p.m.: With Hunter Johnson in at quarterback, Clemson goes three-and-out. Miami gets the ball back with 12:42 to play trailing by 38.

10:56 p.m.: Backup Hunter Johnson is in at quarterback now for Clemson.

10:53 p.m.: Miami fails to register a first down and punts it away. The previous three Hurricanes’ drives had ended in turnovers.

End of third quarter: Clemson 38, Miami 0

10:44 p.m.: Touchdown Clemson. The Tigers nearly lose possession when C.J. Fuller fumbles, but they manage to recover the football. One play later, Bryant finds Deon Cain down the sideline for a 27-yard touchdown as Clemson’s advantage grows to 38-0.

10:42 p.m.: Turnover Miami. The Hurricanes advance near midfield but a Malik Rosier pass is deflected at the line of scrimmage and picked off by Kendall Joseph, who returns it to the Miami 13. The Hurricanes have turned it over on their last three possessions.

10:36 p.m.: Touchdown Clemson. Tavien Feaster takes a handoff, breaks a tackle and runs into the end zone for an 11-yard score to put the Tigers ahead 31-0. Four different Clemson players have now run for a touchdown.

10:31 p.m.: Turnover Miami. The Hurricanes pick up one first down before a Malik Rosier pass bounces off the hands of his intended receiver and into the hands of Clemson’s Ryan Carter. The Tigers will start their drive at the Miami 43.

10:27 p.m.: Clemson with a quick three-and-out as the Tigers fail to convert the Miami turnover into points.

10:23 p.m.: Turnover Miami. Malik Rosier completes a 19-yard pass to Jeff Thomas on the first play of Miami’s drive. But Thomas fumbles and Clemson recovers. The Tigers get the ball back near midfield, already leading 24-0 with 9:37 remaining in the third quarter.

10:20 p.m.: Field goal Clemson. The Tigers move to Miami’s 29 but Bryant is sacked for a 4-yard loss on third down. Alex Spence enters and kicks a career-long 46-yard field goal to give Clemson a 24-0 lead.

10:10 p.m.: Miami moves the chains once but Rosier is sacked on third down and the Hurricanes punt. On the return, Ray-Ray McCloud brings the ball to Clemson’s 41 and Miami is called for a facemask penalty. The Tigers will start their drive at the Hurricanes 44.

10:06 p.m.: We’re back for the second half. Miami will start the period’s opening drive on its 25.

Halftime: Clemson 21, Miami 0

9:41 p.m.: Clemson runs the ball on four straight plays as time runs out in the half and the Tigers head to the locker room leading by three touchdowns. Three different Clemson players have rushed for a score so far, while Miami has tallied just 64 total yards.

9:37 p.m.: Miami advances to the Clemson 44 but its drive stalls there. The Hurricanes punt and Clemson will take over at its 1 with one minute to play in the half.

9:32 p.m.: Clemson fails to pick up a first down and it punts. Bryant has thrown five straight incompletions after connecting on his first 15 pass attempts. 

9:29 p.m.: Miami goes three-and-out again as Malik Rosier’s pass to Braxton Berrios on third down comes up short of the marker. Clemson gets the ball back at its 25 with 4:19 remaining in the half.

9:23 p.m.: Bryant throws three straight incompletions and Clemson is forced to punt for the first time. The Hurricanes take over at their 20 with 5:37 to play in the half.

9:20 p.m.: Kelly Bryant connects with Ray-Ray McCloud for 18 yards to move the chains on a third-and-16.

9:13 p.m.: The Hurricanes pick up one first down but fail to move the chains again. They punt and Clemson will start its next drive at its 15.

9:05 p.m.: Touchdown Clemson. The Tigers take advantage of strong starting field position and score on a 1-yard run by Adam Choice. Clemson now leads 21-0 with 12:49 to play in the half. Kelly Bryant has still yet to throw an incomplete pass for the Tigers.

End of first quarter: Clemson 14, Miami 0

8:53 p.m.: Clemson sacks Malik Rosier on second down and he follows with an incompletion as Miami punts again.

8:45 p.m.: Touchdown Clemson. Kelly Bryant is getting it down through the air and on the ground. He runs for an 11-yard touchdown as the Tigers’ lead grows to 14-0 with 3:02 to play in the first quarter. 

8:40 p.m.: Kelly Bryant has completed his first six passes and already has 92 yards. Clemson currently has it at the Miami 20.

8:36 p.m.: Miami fails to convert the Clemson mistake into points. The Hurricanes throw a wide receiver screen on third down that loses 7 yards. Kicker Michael Badgley enters, but his 46-yard field goal attempt is no good. Miami still trails 7-0.

8:31 p.m.: Clemson forces Miami into a three-and-out. But Ray-Ray McCloud muffs the ensuing punt and the Hurricanes recover the football. They’ll have a fresh set out downs at the Tigers 37.

8:22 p.m.: Touchdown Clemson. The Tigers open the game with a 10-play, 68-yard drive that ends in a 4-yard touchdown run by Travis Etienne. Kelly Bryant was four-for-four on pass attempts for 48-yards on the drive and Clemson now leads 7-0.

8:16 p.m.: Kelly Bryant completes a 14-yard pass to Hunter Renfrow on third down and Clemson moves the chains for the first time. 

8:15 p.m.: The ACC championship is underway. Miami wins the toss and defers. The Tigers will start the game’s opening drive at their 33.

Pregame

7:01 p.m.: There’s about one hour until kickoff in Charlotte.

6:49 p.m.: Here’s Kelly Bryant warming up at Bank of America Stadium.

E.Jay Zarett