CLEMSON, S.C. - Auburn certainly misses Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Cam Newton. The No. 21 Tigers might miss star defensive tackle Nick Fairley even more.
Auburn's luck ended Saturday, along with its 17-game winning streak, as Clemson piled up 624 yards in beating the 2010 national champions 38-24.
"It's been a long time since we lost," Auburn safety Demetruce McNeal said. "I guess it's a new feeling for us all."
That includes Clemson, which hadn't opened 3-0 since 2007.
"It's only fitting that an Alabama grad would be in charge of the team that ended the winning streak," said Clemson coach Dabo Swinney, who played on the Crimson Tide's 1992 national champ.
Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd led the way, completing 30 of 42 passes for 386 yards and four touchdowns in his third start. While the Clemson offense was rolling up yardage, its defense was shutting down an Auburn attack that had a knack for staging late-game rallies. That's what happened a year ago when Auburn overcame a 17-0 deficit to beat Clemson 27-24 in overtime.
This time, it was Boyd picking apart Auburn's defense, something Fairley, the Detroit Lions' first-round pick, rarely let happen last season.
Auburn (2-1) took a 14-0 lead in the first quarter before Boyd began hitting his targets over the final three periods. Clemson converted 10 third downs in a row during one stretch. Auburn was last in Southeastern Conference defense coming in, and it showed.
