College football AP Top 25: Week 9 winners and losers

WEST LAFAYETTE, IN - OCTOBER 20: Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Dwayne Haskins (7) throws downfield during the college football game between the Purdue Boilermakers and Ohio State Buckeyes on October 20, 2018, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, IN. (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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CLEMSON, SC – OCTOBER 20: Running back Lyn-J Dixon #23 of the Clemson Tigers rushes for a touchdown against the North Carolina State Wolfpack during the fourth quarter of the football game at Clemson Memorial Stadium on October 20, 2018 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Mike Comer/Getty Images) /

Winner: Clemson Tigers (No. 3 up to No. 2)

Trevor Lawrence is the answer. Nothing else came to mind while watching the Clemson Tigers smack the NC State Wolfpack around on Saturday afternoon. The freshman quarterback looked like one of those special quarterbacks in the win over No. 16 NC State as he surpassed 300 passing yards for the first time — of many — in his career.

Though he threw just one touchdown pass all afternoon, Lawrence was on point, completing 26-of-39 passes for 308 yards. He had a strong grasp of the offense and the team fed off his energy.

Clemson’s defense, too, stepped up and smacked Ryan Finley who had been solid this season at quarterback for the Wolfpack. Holding this team to just seven points is impressive considering they have some NFL talent under center, ranking 13th in the country in passing yards per game — and that’s after the 156-yard performance on Saturday.

The Tigers are the best team in the ACC and it’s not really that close. This 41-7 win over NC State not only proved that but moved this team from No. 3 to No. 2 in the rankings.

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