CHARLOTTE, N.C. – No. 1 Clemson punched its ticket to the College Football Playoff with a 45-37 win over No. 10 North Carolina in the ACC championship game on Saturday night, overcoming a sloppy first half to take control behind – guess who? Heisman candidate Deshaun Watson, who made perhaps his most emphatic case yet to win the coveted award. Watson had 420 yards of total offense (again) and scored five touchdowns, and the Tar Heels were helpless to stop him.
But it didn't come without some controversy at the end. After North Carolina close to within a score, it attempted an onside kick and recovered.