CLEMSON, S.C. -- Deshaun Watson tied his career high with six touchdown passes, three to Mike Williams, and No. 4 Clemson took another, strong step to the College Football Playoff with a 56-7 victory over rival South Carolina on Saturday night.If the Tigers (11-1) dont stumble against Virginia Tech next week in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship, theyll be off to college footballs final four for a second straight season.The Gamecocks (6-6) were little more than speed bump on that road that Clemson got past quickly, jumping out to a 21-0 lead in the opening quarter and cruising to a third straight win in the Palmetto States biggest sporting event.We wanted to jump on these boys real quick, Watson said. Thats the motto every game, put pressure on them and have them back on their heels.Watson finished with 347 yards and matched the six TDs he threw in his first college start against North Carolina in 2014. He also likely crept a bit closer in the Heisman Trophy race to Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson, whose team lost for a second straight week.Watson and the Tigers also wiped out memories of their last Death Valley game, a stunning, 43-42 loss to underdog Pitt -- Clemsons first home loss in more than three years.We started the ball rolling last week and were keeping the ball rolling, center Jay Guillermo said. Were hitting our stride at a good time.Watson and Williams got things going with a 34-yard TD catch. Then Williams dragged South Carolinas Jamarcus King on his for several yards during a 19-yard scoring catch. By the time Jordan Leggett scored on a wide open 11-yard grab, Clemson was in front to stay and Gamecocks defenders were yelling at each other.Wayne Gallman rushed for 112 yards and a touchdown. Williams caught six passes for 100 yards.Clemsons defense held the Gamecocks to 62 yards in the first half and posted its biggest margin of victory in the series since a 51-0 win in 1900.South Carolina avoided the shutout in the third quarter on a 33-yard halfback pass from Deebo Samuel to Bryan EdwardsTheres not a lot to say, Gamecocks coach Will Muschamp said. On the road recruiting tomorrow, thats the way well change our program.THE TAKEAWAYSouth Carolina certainly made strides over the second half with young players on offense like quarterback Jake Bentley and tailback Rico Dowdle. The Gamecocks will need to add a lot more talent on both sides of the ball before it can match up with the Tigers. Another month of practice and a favorable bowl opponent would still leave South Carolina feeling good about its progress this season.Clemson found its dominating form in its final home game of the season after its stunning, 43-42 fall to Pitt the last time here two weeks ago. More importantly, the Tigers showed a resolved it will need for a second straight trip to the College Football Playoff. If Clemson shows the same drive against Virginia Tech, theres no doubt it will play once again for a national title.POLL IMPLICATIONSLook for Clemson to move up a spot with No. 3 Michigans loss to second-ranked Ohio State.UP NEXTSouth Carolina will await its bowl destination.Clemson will face Virginia Tech in the ACC championship game in Orlando, Florida, next Saturday night. John Riggins Jersey . Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the Carolina Hurricanes, announced Wednesday that the team would assign Swedish forward Elias Lindholm to his nations team for the upcoming tournament. Dwayne Haskins Youth Jersey . Louis Cardinals. Victorino is batting sixth and playing right field after missing two games because of back tightness. https://www.redskinssportsgoods.com/Womens-Alex-Smith-Inverted-Jersey/ . Clarkson had been dealing with an elbow injury in early January and will be out of action for at least one week. He has three goals and five assists through 36 games with the Leafs this season. Wes Martin Womens Jersey . By having more great seasons. Manning was the only unanimous choice for the 2013 Associated Press NFL All-Pro team Friday. Bryce Love Womens Jersey . Clarkson had been dealing with an elbow injury in early January and will be out of action for at least one week. He has three goals and five assists through 36 games with the Leafs this season.Rafael Nadal has warned tennis chiefs that the sport faces future troubles if equipment evolution continues to make speed and power dominate skill and tactics. On the eve of his opening match at the Miami Open, the 14-time Grand Slam singles champion said changes are needed to counteract taller and stronger players using modern racquet technology to make quick work of points and matches.The sport in general needs to improve in all aspects, Nadal said. The players today are taller than before. The racquets hit the ball harder than before. Same time, its true that nothing changed in our sport in terms of rules, how high is the net, everything.People get emotional when the points are intense, long. If every time we make that happen less often, its obvious our sport can be in trouble for the future.The 29-year-old Spanish left-hander said tennis must adapt for future generations to enjoy it as much as past ones have.Tennis has been tremendously successful for a long time. The sport is healthy. But its obvious at the same time we need to move, to predict the future, Nadal said. Nadal says Novak Djokovic deserves his current dominance Im not talking for my generation but for the next generation. The people like the drama, the rallies. I dont remember amazing matches that was only one serve and one shot.The matches that people remember most are matches that are slow matches with unbelievable points and the applause of the people or the emotions of the people are not only with one serve and one shot.Nadal said it is important for tennis to develop stars and rivalries, such as he has enjoyed with once-dominant Roger Federer and with Novak Djokovic, whose 11 career Grand Slam titles include four of the past five contested. Highlights of the semi-final clash at Indian Wells between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal In my opinion, its not good if win a tournament every week a different player.dddddddddddd People arrive at the tournament and nobody knows who are the favorites, Nadal said.Its difficult because the people need to support one player, so you need the stars. To create the stars you need players that have been there for a long time.At the same time its good to have a combination of styles, different players that fight for the important things and one or another can win. That has happened the last 10 or 12 years.Its obvious now its better for Novak. For last year and a half, two years, one is dominating. Maybe too much. But he deserves.Nadal, who has struggled with knee injuries for years, went without a Grand Slam title last year for the first time since 2004 but is not looking toward the end just yet.Im happy doing what Im doing. I enjoy playing my sport, he said. Its about love for the game, about passion for what Im doing and Im going to be here until Im unhappy doing what Im doing.Watch the Miami Open on Sky Sports 3 HD - your home of tennisBy purchasing a Sky Sports Day Pass for £6.99 or Sky Sports Week Pass for £10.99, you can enjoy access to all seven Sky Sports channels and watch on a TV with a NOW TV Box or on a range of devices. Also See: Federer withdraws from Miami Tennis on Sky ' ' '