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What was billed as one of the best matchups of all the bowls, including those of the BCS variety, was just that.

No. 13 Clemson edged No. 7 LSU 25-24 on a 37-yard field goal by Chandler Catanzaro as time expired on New Year's Eve night at the Chick-fil-A Bowl in front of 68,027 at the Georgia Dome.

Clemson (11-2) scored a touchdown with 2:47 to play in the game on a 12-yard pass from spectacular quarterback Tahj Boyd to wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to cut LSU's lead to 24-22. Clemson went for two, but it failed when LSU middle linebacker Kevin Minter hurried Boyd into a pass that fell short and incomplete.

The Tigers (10-3) took over, needing only to register a couple of first downs to run out the clock. But they could not negotiate one. On third and two from its 47 with 1:52 left, LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger's pass was batted down at the line. Jamie Keehn punted out of the end zone, and Clemson took over with 1:39 to play in the game.

Alabama trailed LSU 17-14 with 1:34 to play and won 21-17. The time was slightly off, but LSU's fate would be the same.

"It's the same scenario," LSU coach Les Miles said. "If we get another first down, certainly it makes a difference in that game, too."

This time the Tigers looked like they might hold on for the victory when they forced two straight incompletions from Boyd, and defensive end Sam Montgomery sacked him for a 6-yard loss on third down. But with 1:17 to go and facing a fourth-and-16 play from his 14-yard line, Boyd found wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins for a 26-yard gain to the Clemson 40.

Boyd proceeded to complete 4-of-5 passes in matriculating Clemson to the LSU 17-yard line in the final moments. Boyd kept the ball to put in good position for Catanzaro as he lost three yards to the 20. Clemson called timeout with two seconds left and sent Catanzaro on the field. Miles called a timeout to ice him, but it didn't work. Catanzaro's field goal split the uprights, and Clemson went wild at midfield.

"Happy New Year to everybody," Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said during the postgame celebration.

Boyd partied against the Tigers' defense all night as he completed 36 of 50 passes for 346 yards and two touchdowns in taking the offensive MVP award. LSU's slipping defense gave up 300 passing yards or more for the fourth consecutive game.

Clemson more than doubled LSU in yardage gained with 445 yards to 219 and ran a whopping 100 plays to 48. Hopkins repeatedly beat LSU cornerback Tharold Simon and finished with 13 catches for 191 yards and both touchdowns.

Clemson drove 63 yards in 13 plays early in the fourth quarter, but LSU's defense managed to force a field goal by Catanzaro to stay ahead by 24-16 with 9:26 to play.

The Tigers took their biggest lead of the game at 24-13 lead with 4:49 to play in the third quarter on a 20-yard field goal by Drew Alleman. The points came courtesy of another Clemson turnover deep in its territory.

Montgomery forced the fumble when he tackled tailback Andre Ellington, and free safety Eric Reid recovered at the Clemson 29 yard-line. The Tigers took a 7-0 lead 55 seconds into the game after a fumble by wide receiver Sammy Watkins that was recovered by safety Craig Loston at the Clemson 23.

Without the two turnovers, Clemson may have won handily.