TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- This wasn’t a weekend for style points. It was a weekend where the goal was to simply survive.
Seven teams took their undefeated record on the road, and odds were at least one would fall. Four did. So Clemson is not going to apologize for continuing its season-long theme of surviving and advancing, as the No. 3 Tigers withstood a final Florida State charge to win 37-34 in Tallahassee.
It took three fourth-quarter lead changes, one gutty and one explosive drive and an unrelenting defensive line. There was no Heisman Trophy moment for Deshaun Watson, who was brilliant early and befuddled late.