MIAMI GARDENS, Florida — For the second time in three years, Clemson fell apart at the Orange Bowl. Only this time, the Tigers found a way to recover. Tajh Boyd threw for 378 yards and five touchdowns and Sammy Watkins had a record-setting night with 16 catches for 227 yards as the Tigers rallied to beat Ohio State 40-35 Friday for the school's first Orange Bowl win in 32 years. In the day's other bowl game, the University of Missouri beat Oklahoma State 41-31 to capture the Cotton Bowl. Boyd's 5-yard pass to Stanton Seckinger with 6:16 remaining put Clemson ahead to stay on a night when the Tigers allowed 20 unanswered points in wasting an early 11-point lead. Watkins caught two scoring passes, becoming Clemson's career receptions leader and setting an Orange Bowl record for yardage. When Clemson played in the Orange Bowl two years ago, the Tigers gave up 21 points in the final 2:29 of the first half, letting a close game turn into a 70-33 blowout loss to West Virginia. “We are Orange Bowl champs again,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. “Two years ago we got our butts kicked on this field. And it has been a journey to get back. “ Martavis Bryant caught two more touchdown passes for the Tigers, who posted consecutive 11-win seasons for the first time in school history. “It takes teams to win,” Swinney said. “And listen, we made enough mistakes to probably lose the game tonight. But we kept picking each other up. Our defense was awesome.” Braxton Miller threw for 234 yards and Carlos Hyde ran for 113 more for Ohio State, which led 29-20 in the second half but wound up losing its second straight game — after having won each of its previous 24 under coach Urban Meyer. Corey Brown had 116 yards receiving for the Buckeyes. In Arlington, Texas, Henry Josey ran for 92 yards and three touchdowns, the last a 16-yarder with 3:08 left, to lead Missouri to victory in the Cotton Bowl. Missouri and Oklahoma State traded points on six consecutive possessions in the fourth quarter until Cowboys quarterback Clint Chelf was sacked and fumbled with a minute left. Missouri defensive lineman Shane Ray picked up the ball and rumbled 76 yards down the sideline to score. Missouri matched its school record with its 12th victory of the season and gave the Southeastern Conference its 10th win in the last 11 Cotton Bowls. — AP
