CLEMSON, S.C. -- Trevor Lawrence threw for 403 yards and two touchdowns in his first game in five weeks as No. 3 Clemson throttled Pittsburgh 52-17 on Saturday.
Lawrence hadn't seen the field on game day since beating Syracuse on Oct. 24. He tested positive for the coronavirus the following week and missed Clemson's next two games, including its only loss this season -- a 47-40 double overtime defeat at No. 2 Notre Dame.
A healthy Lawrence expected to play last week, but a positive test from a Clemson offensive lineman on the Friday before the game led to a postponement at Florida State just hours before kickoff.
Lawrence, a 6-6 junior, was as crisp as ever in leading Clemson (8-1, 7-1 ACC) a step closer to the league championship game and a likely rematch with the unbeaten Fighting Irish.
"Last night in Death Valley, super special night," Lawrence said. "Wouldn't want to go out any other way."
Cornell Powell had 5 catches for 176 yards, including a 43-yard TD catch off a flea-flicker pass from Lawrence. Powell also had a one-handed grab on a 70-yard pass to the Pitt 5 that set up Chez Mellusi's 2-yard TD run for a 38-3 lead.
Lawrence opened the scoring with a 5-yard touchdown pass to freshman E.J. Williams less than four minutes in. By the time reserve runner Lyn-J Dixon burst through for a 1-yard touchdown with five seconds left in the first quarter, the Tigers led 31-0 -- the most points they had ever scored in the opening period.
The Panthers (5-5, 4-5) were the last team to win at Clemson, 43-42, in 2016. But Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett threw four interceptions, three in the first eight minutes that all led to Clemson touchdowns, and the Panthers could not recover as the Tigers won their 28th consecutive game at home.
Lawrence finished 26-of-37 passing and improved to 32-1 as a starter. He got a huge cheer from the crowd, limited to 18,819 due to coronavirus restrictions, when he took a solo run down Clemson's hill for those playing their final games at Memorial Stadium.
He said before the season began his plan was to play the season, graduate in December and head to the NFL, where he's projected to be the overall No. 1 pick.
Pickett passed for 209 yards and 2 touchdowns along with those 4 interceptions. The Panthers managed just 16 yards rushing, a season low.
MICHIGAN STATE 29,
NO. 8 NORTHWESTERN 20
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Matt Coghlin made a tiebreaking 48-yard field goal with 3:35 left, and Michigan State handed Northwestern its first loss of the season.
The Wildcats (5-1, 5-1) were coming off a 17-7 victory over Wisconsin that put them in contention for a spot in the College Football Playoff. That prospect likely was dashed with the loss to the Spartans, but they remain in control of the Big Ten West.
The Spartans (2-3, 2-3) lost a 17-0 lead, but went back ahead by forcing three turnovers in the fourth quarter and making the most of two big kicks by Coghlin.
Northwestern grabbed a 20-17 lead early in the fourth on Cam Porter's 3-yard run.
The Spartans rallied on Coghlin's 44-yard field goal after forcing a turnover one snap after Rocky Lombardi's interception.
NO. 12 INDIANA 27,
MARYLAND 11
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Stevie Scott III had 3 touchdown runs, and Indiana had 3 interceptions, 3 sacks and a game-changing safety.
Freshman Tim Baldwin. ran for a season-high 106 yards for the Hoosiers (5-1).
The safety midway through the third quarter gave the Hoosiers a 9-3 lead, and Indiana extended the margin to 17-3 on the ensuing possession. Scott scored on a 1-yard plunge and backup quarterback Jack Tuttle completed his first throw of the day -- a two-point conversion to Peyton Hendershot. Tuttle also led the Hoosiers to two fourth-quarter scores after replacing injured starter Michael Penix Jr.
Maryland (2-2) was coming off a 21-day break stemming from a covid-19 outbreak that caused the cancellation of two games.
NO. 20 COASTAL CAROLINA 49,
TEXAS STATE 14
SAN MARCOS. Texas -- C.J. Marable ran for 157 yards and three touchdowns as Coastal Carolina wrapped up the Sun Belt Conference East Division title with a victory over Texas State.
The Chanticleers (9-0, 7-0) had 572 yards of offense in extending their winning streak to 10 games. Texas State (2-10, 2-6) closed its sixth consecutive losing season. It was the second-most points the Bobcats have allowed in regulation this season.
Coastal Carolina scored touchdowns on its first two possessions en route to a 35-7 lead at the half.
NO. 23 OKLAHOMA STATE 50,
TEXAS TECH 44
STILLWATER, Okla. -- Dezmon Jackson rushed for career highs of 235 yards and three touchdowns as Oklahoma State bounced back from a disappointing loss to rival Oklahoma.
Jackson had 36 carries in part because the top two backs, Chuba Hubbard and LD Brown, did not play. The Cowboys still ran for a season-high 317 yards.
Hubbard was out with a right ankle injury. Brown has been fighting through injuries.
Spencer Sanders passed for 222 yards and ran for 78, and Tylan Wallace caught 7 passes for 129 yards and a score for Oklahoma State (6-2, 5-2 Big 12).
Alan Bowman passed for 384 yards and 3 touchdowns, Erik Ezukanma caught 7 passes for 183 yards and 2 touchdowns, and SaRodorick Thompson ran for 133 yards for Texas Tech. The Red Raiders (3-6, 2-6) gained 639 yards.
