Clemson went into Tallahassee looking to remain perfect. It did, but just barely.
Deshaun Watson threw a go-ahead 34-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Leggett with 2:06 remaining to give the No. 3 TIgers (8-0, 5-0 ACC) a 37-34 victory over No. 12 Florida State (5-3, 2-3).
SCOREBOARD: Saturday's results, stats
Watson finished with 378 passing yards and two touchdowns.
Clemson's defense, meanwhile, battered FSU quarterback Deondre Francois and shut down a last-gasp drive in the final seconds.
Baylor and West Virginia weren't so lucky to avoid the upset. Baylor lost at Texas 35-34, while Oklahoma State beat the Mountaineers 37-20. Suddenly, the Big 12's playoff outlook is grim.
The Pac-12 had the national spotlight on it Saturday, and it didn't disappoint. Washington-Utah was a thrilling mtachup and with a 31-24 win, the Huskies proved they deserve to be in the College Football Playoff conversation.
MORE FROM WEEK 9:One down, one to go for Michigan
Texas knocks Baylor, Big 12 from playoff perch
Time to take Auburn seriously
What we learned from Florida-Georgia
Week 9 top performers
The teams traded scores for most of the game, but a 58-yard punt return by Dante Pettis in the fourth quarter proved to be the difference. The Utes had a chance to tie the game, but couldn't convert a fourth down with 43 seconds left.
Earlier in the day, Virginia gave Lamar Jackson 1:57 to lead a game-winning drive. That was way too much time. Jackson converted a fourth down and tossed a beautiful 29-yard touchdown pass for the win. Louisville came back to beat the Cavaliers 32-25 and avoid a massive upset.
And in the big noon matchup, Michigan defeated in-state rival Michigan State for the first time since 2012. The Wolverines won 32-23, capped by Jabrill Peppers taking a two-point conversion the other way for the Wolverines' final two points.
In later action, No. 11 Wisconsin knocked off No. 7 Nebraska 23-17 in overtime; No. 18 Tennessee fell at South Carolina 24-21; and No. 13 Boise State lost to Wyoming, further muddling the Group ofr 5 picture.
Saturday, Oct. 29
No. 2 Michigan 32, Michigan State 23 | Final
No. 3 Clemson 37, No. 12 Florida State 34 | FInal
No. 4 Washington 31, No. 17 Utah 24 | Final
No. 5 Louisville 32, Virginia 25 | Final
No. 6 Ohio State 24, Northwestern 20 | Final
No. 11 Wisconsin 23, No. 7 Nebraska 17, OT | Final
Texas 35, No. 8 Baylor 34 | Final
No. 9 Texas A&M 52, New Mexico State 10 | Final
Oklahoma State 37, No. 10 West Virginia 20 | Final
Wyoming 30, No. 13 Boise State 28 | Final
No. 14 Florida 24, Georgia 10 | Final
No. 15 Auburn 40, Ole Miss 29 | Final
No. 16 Oklahoma 56, Kansas 3 | Final
South Carolina 24, No. 18 Tennessee 21 | Final
No. 24 Penn State 62, Purdue 24 | Final
Friday's result
South Florida 52, No. 22 Navy 45 | Final
Thursday's result
No. 25 Virginia Tech 39, Pittsburgh 36 | Final
