Clemson vs. Georgia Tech: Live Score, Highlights for Tigers vs. Yellow Jackets

All of the college football world was watching Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson on Thursday night's national stage, but the young Tigers defense stole the show.

Coordinator Brent Venables' defense put on a clinic in how to stop Georgia Tech's triple-option offense, and the Tigers smothered the Yellow Jackets in their ACC opener, 26-7.

Tech had just 23 yards of total offense in an abysmal first half, and 15 of those came on a half-ending run. By then, Clemson held a 23-0 lead and was well on its way to dominating.

Though the Jackets put together a fourth-quarter touchdown drive and got the ball back, an interception on a halfback pass ended any comeback hopes.

Watson wasn't bad at all, either, distributing the ball to the Tigers' many weapons and finishing 32-of-48 for 301 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Ray-Ray McCloud also gained a career-high 101 receiving yards as the Tigers rolled.

The win was the first in six attempts for the Tigers at Bobby Dodd Stadium, a place that was quiet from the beginning as Clemson scored on its first possession, shut down Tech and left little doubt that it is ready to face Louisville next week.