CITY » g half, then gave up 26 points on five

CLEMSON, S.C. -- No. 3 Clemson used a dramatic win at home over Notre Dame last year to kick start its run to the Atlantic Coast Conference title and the College Football Playoff. The Tigers 42-36 victory over No. 7 Louisville on Saturday night looks like a similar boost -- and the Tigers appear to have few hurdles on the way back to the top.My mind is on the national championship, Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson said.Watson proved that against the Cardinals (4-1, 2-1 ACC), who overcame a 28-10 deficit to lead 36-28 in the final period. Thats when Watson, a Heisman Trophy favorite entering the season, took over by leading the Tigers (5-0, 2-0) to two touchdowns and throwing the last of his five TDs to wide open tight end Jordan Leggett with 3:14 to go for the winning points.Clemsons defense withstood a final push by Louisville, whose drive ended a yard short of a first down with 33 seconds to go. Tigers coach Dabo Swinney called it Clemson tough.Were built for games like this, he said.These Tigers may be built for even more -- and theres little to slow down another run to the playoffs.Clemson, which moved up two spots in the AP Top25 , has a stronghold on the ACC Atlantic Division, needing to lose at least twice to open the door for Louisville to play in the conference title game in Orlando, Florida.The Tigers got a similar drama-filled win over the Fighting Irish , 24-22, when defensive tackle Carlos Watkins stopped quarterback Deshone Kizer short on a tying 2-point conversion at the end. Clemsons offense took off after the victory, averaging more than 44 points and 554 yards a game the rest of the way.Even though we hadnt been playing our best before the game or during the game, our guys never gave up their belief, co-offensive coordinator Jeff Scott said. They believed in each other that they could get it done.Like in 2015, the Tigers biggest regular-season hurdle appears to be Oct. 29 at Florida State, which was pummeled by Louisville last month and fell to North Carolina on an improbable 54-yard field goal as time expired. Clemson has not won in Tallahassee, Florida, since 2006 and dropped its last game there, 23-17, in overtime when Watson took over as the teams starting quarterback.Clemson starts the rest of its season Friday night at Boston College, which has not beaten the Tigers since 2010. The Tigers other remaining ACC foes -- North Carolina State, Syracuse, Pittsburgh and Wake Forest -- are a combined 0-11 against Clemson over the past four years.Pitt has not faced Clemson since joining the ACC.Theres also Clemsons yearly season-closer with rival South Carolina. Just a few years ago, the Gamecocks had won five straight against the Tigers but dont appear to have the offense in coach Will Muschamps first year to hand with Clemsons playmakers.The ACC title game could mean rematches from a year ago with Miami (58-0 Clemson win) or North Carolina (45-37 victory in the league championship). Or maybe Virginia Tech, which moved into the rankings at No. 25.There are plenty of things to clean up. Watson had four turnovers (a fumble and a career-high three interceptions) against Louisville. Clemsons defense bottled up Lamar Jackson and held the Cardinals to 205 yards in the opening half, then gave up 26 points on five straight second-half possessions to surrender the lead.Louisville put up 568 yards, more than Clemsons allowed to anyone over the past two season including to Alabama in the 45-40 national championship loss last January.Swinney said that like last year, the Tigers are far from a finished product. Nor do they have to be right now. Its a long season of ebbs and flows- and Swinney likes the flow his team has going right now.At the end of the day, you either have the heart or you dont, Swinney said. You have the will to win or you dont. What can you say? Cheap Custom Raiders Jersey . The defence is doing its part, too. Drew Brees threw a pair of touchdown passes in the first half and the guys on the other side made sure that was enough, sending the Saints to a 17-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night. Custom Raiders Jerseys . Canada is now down to its 22-player limit, although but players wont be registered until Christmas Day. Changes could still be made as a result of a suspension or injury. http://www.customraidersjersey.com/ . Ashley Youngs cross was inadvertently headed by Chester into his own net in the 66th minute, allowing United to claim a third straight league win. "We had to dig deep with our fighting spirit and weve done that," United striker Wayne Rooney said. Authentic Custom Raiders Jersey . -- The Missouri Tigers might not have a roster full of superstars. Raiders Jerseys China . 1 position. The Mustangs (6-0), who beat Queens 50-31 last weekend, earned 17 first-place votes and 287 points in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada. Western was last ranked first in the country in October 2011. LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Pleased as Kentucky coach John Calipari was by last weeks performance on the national stage, he seemed more encouraged by the second-ranked Wildcats encore that figures to raise their profile even more.DeAaron Fox scored 16 points, Malik Monk added 14 and Kentucky took a step toward the nations top ranking by rolling past Duquesne 93-59 on Sunday night.Five days after beating No. 13 Michigan State in New York, the Wildcats (4-0) made their case toward supplanting Duke for No. 1 when the AP Top 25 is announced Monday. The first of several scheduled late-evening starts didnt affect Kentucky as it won by its biggest margin this season.The Wildcats controlled Duquesne (2-3) on both ends, holding the Dukes to a season-low 30 percent shooting while making 35 of 76 attempts (46 percent).One thing I was anxious to see was how would we play, would there be a letdown, Calipari said. I thought we played well and I think Isaiah (Briscoe) kind of dragged them in the first half. ... I thought we played hard. Were still learning each other.Briscoe and Mychal Mulder each had 13 points and Bam Adebayo had 12 with eight rebounds for Kentucky, which out-rebounded Duquesne 49-32 to win its second game of the Bluegrass Showcase. Mulders total was a career high and included three 3-pointers.Were coming together better as the season progresses, Adebayo said.Emile Blackmans 13 points led the Dukes, who lost their third in four games.BIG PICTUREDuquesne: Coming off a one-point loss Friday against Canisius, the Dukes were close at the start but quickly fell behind due to cold shooting. They made just 6 of 29 in the first half (21 percent) and committed 11 of their 18 turnovers as they struggled against the Wildcats disruptive defense and length. They were near even on the boards for a while but eventually beaten there as well.Nothing Kentucky did surprised Duquesne coach Jim Feerry other than its ability to sustain the effort.ddddddddddddIts relentless, Ferry said of the Wildcats intensity. Its just so challenging, the size and the length of the guards, how quickly they attack and they play very unselfishly.Kentucky: Seeking to pick up where they left off in an impressive defensive showing against Michigan State, the Wildcats constantly contested the Dukes passes and shots to build a 50-23 lead at the break. They controlled the paint offensively (44-20) and established a season best in rebounding differential.POLL IMPLICATIONSTop-ranked Dukes loss to No. 7 Kansas at Madison Square Garden opened the door for Kentucky to assume the top spot, and the Wildcats made it a foregone conclusion with their easy victory over the Dukes.RELOADINGEarlier Sunday, Kentucky announced the signings of 2017 recruits Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Quade Green -both guards -- along with center Nick Richards and forward P.J. Washington. All are rated as four- or five-star prospects by recruiting services, which of course is a familiar story in Lexington.RUPP MILESTONECalipari improved to 122-4 at Rupp Arena and tied Joe B. Halls record for most wins at the venue. Ferry drew a laugh when he remarked, He lost four? and Calipari said Yaaaay when told of the achievement before noting what visitors face when playing there.Its a hard place to win if youre an opponent and the fans make it that way, he said. I walked in today, 9 oclock on a Sunday night, we were missing some students but other than that, the place was packed. Are you kidding me?Attendance was 21,327.UP NEXTDuquesne: The Dukes host UT Martin on Wednesday night as they continue play in the Bluegrass Showcase.Kentucky: Hosts Cleveland State in a Wednesday matinee before Thanksgiving. ' ' '