CLEMSON -- The "defense wins championships" maxim was knocked down a few rungs by a procession of sensational quarterbacks from Deshaun Watson to Tua Tagovailoa to Trevor Lawrence to Joe Burrow to Mac Jones.

But a funny thing happened just as we all convinced ourselves of the non-negotiables in the championship formula.

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The last team standing, for three straight years, didn't really possess the prototype triggerman behind center.