Clemson star QB returns from virus, punishes Pitt in victory

Trevor Lawrence threw for 403 yards and two TDs in his first game in five weeks — and likely last one at Death Valley — as fourth-ranked Clemson throttled visiting 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 two games.

Lawrence led Clemson (8-1, 7-1 ACC; No. 3 playoff rankings) a step closer to the league title game and a likely rematch with unbeaten Notre Dame, which dealt Clemson its loss in a game that Lawrence missed.

Cornell Powell had five catches for 176 yards, including a 43-yard TD 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.

The Panthers (5-5, 4-5) are the last team to win at Clemson, 43-42 in 2016. Saturday, Kenny Pickett threw four interceptions, three in the first eight minutes that led to Clemson touchdowns.

Clemson’s seniors finished their careers without losing at home.

#1 Alabama 42, #22 Auburn 13: Mac Jones passed for 302 yards and five TDs (two long ones to DeVonta Smith) in Tuscaloosa and the Crimson Tide (8-0) rolled over rival Auburn without coach Nick Saban. Alabama continued a dominating march through the SEC even minus its six-time national champion coach, who tested positive for the coronavirus Wednesday and watched the game from home, witnessing the usual array of big plays, but with offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian running the show. The result was much of the same against the Tigers (5-3) in the second-worst loss of Gus Malzahn’s coaching tenure. The one bigger: Alabama 52-21 in the 2018 Iron Bowl. Former Antioch High School running back Najee Smith ran for 96 yards, including...