Deshaun Watson beat South Carolina with a torn ACL. (USATSI)
Watson suffered a torn ACL before the Georgia State game, according to Dabo Swinney. (USATSI)

Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson led the Tigers to their first victory against South Carolina since 2008. According to coach Dabo Swinney, the sensational freshman played the entire game with a serious knee injury he suffered more than a week ago. 

Swinney told reporters after the game that Watson suffered a torn ACL two days before the Georgia State game on Nov. 22. Watson's brace, according to Clemson, prevents him from damaging the knee further and he will wait until after the team's bowl game to have surgery. 

Watson first injured his knee in the first quarter of Clemson's loss to Georgia Tech on Nov. 15. Clemson announced after that game that Watson had a sprained LCL and his playing status has been considered "day-to-day" ever since. In Saturday's win against South Carolina, Watson had to leave the game and have his knee examined and was visibly affected by the injury.

But even through injury, Watson took the Clemson offense into a gear it could not reach with Cole Stoudt under center. Offensive coordinator Chad Morris moved Watson around in the offense to allow Artavis Scott and Wayne Gallman attack the Gamecocks' shaky defense. When Clemson got near the goal line, Watson became the Tigers' finisher and picked up two rushing touchdowns to pair with two scores through the air.