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A star is born: Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence takes center stage as football's next big thing

SportsPulse: From Levi's Stadium, our college football insiders breakdown Clemson's demolishment of Alabama and if the title game was a passing of the baton from one dynasty to another. USA TODAY

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Clemson co-offensive coordinator Tony Elliott caught a smile flashing across Trevor Lawrence's face following the Tigers' pregame meal before Monday night's championship game against Alabama, the Tigers' first signal that even this moment, the biggest in the sport, wouldn't be too much for the 19-year-old true freshman quarterback.

Elliott watched as Lawrence went through his normal rituals: change, lace up, tape up, get ready.