Clemson runs over Oklahoma in Russell Athletic Bowl

ORLANDO, Fla. -- At Saturday's Russell Athletic Bowl press conference, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said Oklahoma was "a few plays away from being in the College Football Playoff."

On Monday night, the Sooners were about 50 plays away from being in the game against Clemson.

The Tigers got a redemptive performance from much-maligned senior quarterback Cole Stoudt, who passed for 319 yards and three touchdowns and ran for a fourth score in a 40-6 victory in front of 40,071 fans at Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium.

Clemson's defense also turned in a dominant performance, limiting the 24th-ranked Sooners to 275 yards of total offense and 17 first downs.

The victory improved Clemson's record to 10-3, giving the Tigers a fourth consecutive season of 10 or more victories for just the second time in school history.

Oklahoma concluded its season 8-5.

Wide receiver Artavis Scott set the tone for Clemson early, taking a short screen pass and dashing 65 yards on the Tigers' first play of the game. Scott, who recently was named a Freshman All-American, showed why, finishing with eight receptions for 114 yards.

Fellow wide receiver Mike Williams added nine catches for 112 yards, including a 24-yard touchdown, giving Clemson two 100-receivers in a bowl game for the first time in school history.

Junior kicker Adam Lakip kicked field goals of 35 and 49 yards, the latter of which was a career long effort that matched a 37-year-old school bowl record set by Obed Ariri against Pittsburgh in the 1977 Gator Bowl.

Clemson's defense also got in on the fun as sophomore linebacker Ben Boulware corralled a tipped pass and rumbled 47 yards for a touchdown to help the Tigers to a 27-0 halftime lead.

Oklahoma freshman running back sensation Samaje Perine, who rushed for 1,579 yards and 21 touchdowns this season – including an FBS-record 427 yards against Kansas – was limited to 98 yards on 19 attempts.

Sooners quarterback Trevor Knight was under duress all night and wound up completing only 17 of 37 passes for 103 yards. He threw three interceptions.

The night belonged to Clemson – and to Stoudt, the son of former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Cliff Stoudt.

Stoudt, who began the season as the starter but lost his job to freshman Deshaun Watson by the fourth game, completed 26 of 36 passes without an interception. Watson broke a finger against Louisville and Stoudt came on to start the next four games before Watson returned only to injure a knee against Georgia Tech.

Watson's season ended with surgery Dec. 12, elevating Stoudt to the starting role again. This time, he made the most of his opportunity, earning Most Valuable Player honors and gaining plenty of redemption in the final game of his career.

Scott Keepfer writes for The Greenville (S.C.) News.