BOSTON -- By Tuesday, Clemson Coach Dabo Swinney could tell his team needed a break. That victory against Louisville was dramatic and draining, and a long trip on short rest was looming.
Swinney eased up a bit on the third-ranked Tigers and they responded with a sharp performance when they easily could have come out flat, beating Boston College 56-10 on Friday night.
"It was a taxing week, but our guys didn't complain," Swinney said. "They just went through the grind. I love that mentality of that team."
Deshaun Watson threw for 266 yards and four touchdowns, and the Heisman Trophy hopeful even helped clear the way for Wayne Gallman's 59-yard scoring run with a solid block.
Clemson (6-0, 3-0 Atlantic Coast) extended its conference winning streak to 12 games and its road winning streak to eight, matching a school record set from 1978-1979.
"I've been doing this a long time. There's a reason that record's only eight. It's really hard to do," Swinney said, doing his postgame news conference with the big bronze O'Rourke-McFadden Trophy that goes to the winner of this rivalry sitting on the table next to him.
Boston College (3-3, 0-3) lost its 11th consecutive ACC game.
Clemson broke three plays of at least 50 yards in the first quarter, two for touchdowns and another that set up a score. Watson picked off a defender on the edge to help spring Gallman for the game's first touchdown. Watson's 59-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Leggett made it 21-0 late in the first half.
TOP 25/MOUNTAIN WEST
NO. 19 BOISE STATE 49,
NEW MEXICO 21
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Brett Rypien threw five touchdown passes -- three to Cedrick Wilson -- and No. 19 Boise State overwhelmed New Mexico.
The Broncos (5-0, 2-0 Mountain West) scored touchdowns on seven consecutive possessions. New Mexico (2-3, 1-1) scored on its second possession, and didn't reach the end zone again until the midway through the fourth quarter.
Rypien was 21 of 28 and 391 yards, and Wilson had nine catches for 167 yards. Thomas Sperbeck, who had 20 catches for 281 yards last season against New Mexico, added nine catches for 198 yards and two scores.
Sports on 10/08/2016