3 takeaways from Clemson routing Notre Dame for ACC crown: Trevor Lawrence’s Heisman moment

Clemson avenged their earlier loss to Notre Dame with an ACC Championship Game victory that will shape the College Football Playoff standings.

Clemson left no doubt in their ACC Championship Game matchup with Notre Dame as Dabo Swinney‘s Tigers won the conference for the sixth straight year to clinch a College Football Playoff berth and the Fighting Irish may have lost theirs.

After falling to the Irish in a regular-season matchup, the Tigers pounced on Notre Dame in the battle for the ACC crown, winning 34-10.

The outcome of the game reminded us all of a few truths while also settling at least one question for the College Football Playoff.

Trevor Lawrence had his Heisman moment

Okay, so it definitely mattered that Trevor Lawrence didn’t play in the first meeting between Clemson and Notre Dame.

Back then, the Irish bested the Tigers 47-40 while D.J. Uiagalelei stood in. Sure, the true freshman backup was fine, throwing for 439 yards and two touchdowns, but the Clemson offense didn’t click the way they needed to. They settled for field goals too often and let the Irish take control of the game.

Lawrence was the threat and leader the Tigers needed, throwing for 322 yards and two touchdowns while adding 90 yards and a touchdown on the ground. He put his team out front right away and didn’t relinquish an inch as he made his Heisman statement.

It also helped that Brett Venables’ defense came to play this time around.

Notre Dame is overrated

Notre Dame is Notre Dame. What’s new?

The Irish are a good team, but they’re not on Clemson’s level and they’re nowhere near being ready to contend with Alabama who they’ll likely face in the playoff semifinal should they make it.

The earlier win over the Tigers might have helped the Irish begin to shed their reputation for disappointing on a national stage but that progress was undone by their showing this time around.

The entire game was a “come back to earth” moment for the Irish.

The No. 2 seed is Clemson’s

Clemson pretty much guaranteed the No. 2 seed in the College Football Playoff standings with their convincing victory.

The only thing up in the air now is what a 24-point loss will mean for Notre Dame. Was it enough to keep the 10-1 Irish out of the playoff completely?

That would be pretty tough on Notre Dame considering they did beat Clemson to start with, but it’s a conversation the committee will have to have. And one that should have the Irish sweating a little bit.

Texas A&M is looming after beating Tennessee in their finale. They have a strong victory over Florida on their resume. Then again, they were beaten even more convincingly this year by Alabama.

The debates will rage, but Clemson now has the luxury of sitting those debates out. They’re in.

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