CLEMSON – In the not too distant future Deshaun Watson will be Clemson’s starting quarterback. Perhaps before this season runs its course.

Except that Cole Stoudt hasn’t given ground the first two weeks, and Dabo Swinney insisted after Saturday’s game with South Carolina State
that he wasn’t about to buckle to external pressure to change.

“I know y’all want a quarterback controversy, and I know y’all want me to start the backup,” Swinney said to reporters. “As soon as we make
that switch and Deshaun has a bad game, you’ll want Cole to go back in.

“We’re not getting into that. If we have a quarterback change I’ll let you know.”

A week ago Stoudt played reasonably well for more than three quarters, but didn’t have any answers in the fourth quarter nor did he have field
position a sentry at the gate or a reason to give Georgia pause.

This week he had freshmen running backs Wayne Gallman and Adam Choice and freshman receiver Artavis Scott.

So did Watson.

“Cole has definitely, from a whole package standpoint, is a little bit ahead,” Swinney said, though conceding. “It doesn’t take a rocket
scientist to see that Number 4 (Watson) is pretty special.”

Stoudt completed 22 of 31 for 302 yards and a 37-yard touchdown pass to Scott. Watson completed 8 of 9 for 154 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for 20 yards on five carries.

“Cole is playing well. Cole has played very well,” Swinney said. “But we’ve got something special in Number 4, and it’s easy to see. We’ll
continue to play him. We’ll continue to bring him along.

“Ain’t nothing wrong with having two really good quarterbacks.”

Florida won a national championship playing both Chris Leak and Tim Tebow. Bobby Bowden often used two when he was building the program at Florida State.

Auburn, LSU and Alabama are using a couple of quarterbacks this season. And with defending national champion Florida State next on the schedule, Swinney said both would continue to play.

“That depends on performance,” Swinney said. “You’re not going to see Deshaun more if he goes in and plays awful. And you’re not going to see
Cole Stoudt a ton if he plays terrible. You’ve got to play well, and that’s the whole deal.”

Stoudt claimed he didn’t hear fan applause for Watson each of the three times he appeared Saturday.

“I kind of zone them out,” he said. “I don’t feel any lack of respect.

“I don’t focus on any of that.”

And Watson diplomatically deferred to the coaches.

“If Cole’s sitting around worrying about what a freshman is doing, then he’s probably not going to be a good player,” Swinney said. “He’s got to
be focused on what he’s doing, and that’s exactly what he’s doing. He’s dialed in. He threw for 302 yards today and y’all want to ask about
Deshaun. That’s a shame.”

Ironically, Clemson ran out four quarterbacks on Saturday.

“Cole Stoudt has earned the right to be the starter and has done nothing to not be the starter. He’s played great,” Swinney said. “And we need to
recognize that.

“And Deshaun Watson is exactly what I told you he was – a special young talent. And when he’s gotten the opportunity to play he’s performed
well.

“That’s what we expect him to do. That’s why we recruited him. That’s why we’re playing him because we think he deserves to play, and he’s
earned it. As long as he continues to play well, you’ll see him. If somewhere down the road we have some type of change because somebody
just decides they’re going to be a bad player, then we’ll deal with it.”

So much of this is reminiscent of the season fans cheered Willy Korn every time he stepped on the field.

Remember how that worked out.