Top 25: No. 14 Clemson 26, Auburn 19

College Football • Clemson held off Auburn in Atlanta.

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ATLANTA • Andre Ellington rushed for 231 yards, DeAndre Hopkins set a school record with 13 receptions and No. 14 Clemson opened the season with 26-19 victory over Auburn on Saturday night.

Playing before a 50-50 crowd at the Georgia Dome, which basically is halfway between the two campuses, Clemson shook off any hangover from last season's embarrassing 70-33 loss to West Virginia in the Orange Bowl and showed plenty of offense against Auburn (0-1) even without star receiver Sammy Watkins, who was suspended for the first two games after an offseason drug arrest.

The second half was a battle of field goals before Tajh Boyd lofted a 4-yard touchdown pass to Hopkins, who made a brilliant, twisting catch in the corner of the end zone with 9 minutes, 17 seconds remaining. —