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GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — LSU got the drama out of the way early while Clemson needed almost all 60 minutes in a white-knuckle contest. The result was the same. The two teams of Tigers won Saturday in the College Football Playoff semifinals and will meet in New Orleans for the title on Jan. 13. LSU is moving on after a brilliant 63-28 win over Oklahoma. LSU quarterback Joe Burrow threw for 493 yards and seven touchdowns. Clemson beat Ohio State 29-23 after a late rally and then an interception with 37 seconds left. Clemson will be playing for its third title in four seasons.
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Trevor Lawrence connected with Travis Etienne on a 34-yard touchdown with 1:49 left in the fourth quarter and No. 3 Clemson beat No. 2 Ohio State 29-23 Saturday night at the Fiesta Bowl to advance to the College Football Playoff championship game. The Tigers went 94 yards on four plays in 1:18, with Lawrence completing all three of his passes and mixing in an 11-yard run. The sophomore quarterback who has never lost a college start passed for 259 yards and two scores and ran for a career-high 107 yards, including a 67-yard touchdown late in the first half. Clemson sealed it by intercepting Justin Fields' pass into the end one with 37 seconds left.
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — The referee in the Fiesta Bowl defended two key calls that went Clemson's way after video review in the Tigers' 29-23 victory against No. 2 Ohio State. Video review led to a targeting call on Ohio State in the second quarter that kept a Clemson drive alive and led to the Tigers' first touchdown. In the third quarter, the Buckeyes appeared to score after a Clemson receiver was stripped of the ball and the fumble was returned for a touchdown. Video review overturned the call on the field and ruled the receiver never completed the catch.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Nick Richards had 13 points, including seven consecutive ones in overtime, and No. 19 Kentucky scored the final eight points for a 78-70 victory over No. 3 Louisville in a thrilling Bluegrass rivalry showdown. Louisville led 68-65 on Jordan Nwora's 3-pointer with 2:20 left before Richards converted a 3-point play to make it 70-68. The junior forward added another layup and two more foul shots before Immanuel Quickley and Tyrese Maxey provided a six-point cushion from the line. Ashton Hagans' dunk with 4.9 seconds left sealed the tense win at Rupp Arena.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Malik Osborne scored 12 of his 14 points in the first half as No. 17 Florida State cruised to an 88-71 win over North Alabama. Balsa Koprivica scored 13 points while Trent Forrest had 10 points and six assists for Florida State (11-2), which has won seven of its games by 10 or more points.
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Vernon Carey Jr. scored 19 points to help No. 4 Duke beat Brown 75-50. Alex O’Connell added 14 points and Wendell Moore Jr. had 10 points for the Blue Devils in their final nonconference game of the regular season. Duke point guard Tre Jones missed his second consecutive game because of a mild sprain of his left foot. Jones is averaging 15.6 points and 7.1 assists per game. Brandon Anderson scored 16 points to lead Brown in its third consecutive loss.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — Elijah Hughes scored 19 points and matched his career high with nine assists, Buddy Boeheim added 15 points, and Syracuse beat Niagara 71-57. Syracuse scored the first 10 points of the game and built a 16-point lead just over 6 minutes in on a three-point play by Hughes and the Purple Eagles couldn't recover. Syracuse ended its nonconference slate on a three-game winning streak. Niagara has lost four straight under rookie coach Greg Paulus, a former Duke point guard.
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Clemson's top receiver Tee Higgins has returned after being injured early against No. 2 Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl. Higgins was injured in the first quarter of the College Football Playoff semifinal after being hit along the sideline. He lost his helmet on the hit and was attended by Clemson's trainers before heading to the locker room with a towel over his head. Higgins returned for the start of the second half.
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