Clemson falls to an unranked team in its first loss since 2017. NC State wins double overtime 27-21. (0:56).
Clemson's football and practice facilities are adorned with a single mantra: Best Is the Standard.
Clemson has excelled in almost every aspect of football over the past six seasons, winning the ACC and making it to the College Football Playoff. Clemson has a number of top NFL draft prospects, including a quarterback and multiple NFL picks. They also have a dominant offense and strong defense.
This is why the four first games of this season were so impressive in their rapid reversal. The Clemson team we have grown to love has disappeared, and is replaced by a team that can only gain 300 yards per game. Trevor Lawrence was throwing for more than 400 yards in a single half a year ago. Oh, how things have changed.
Clemson fell to 2-2 on Saturday after a double-overtime defeat to NC State, and was effectively eliminated from the College Football Playoff competition before we reach October. Clemson's six-year hold on the ACC is now at risk. Since 2015, we've asked ourselves, "Is this year the year Clemson can be overtaken in the ACC?"
Perhaps we will finally find the answer.
The cracks were already evident long before the new season started. Clemson lost its two College Football Playoff games. First, it lost to LSU in the national championship to end the 2019 season. Then, it lost in the semifinals to Ohio State last year. Clemson was overmatched in both, with Lawrence at the center.
We have seen Clemson move between quarterbacks without losing a step. Clemson, despite Deshaun Watson winning the Tigers the 2016 national championship, still managed to get back to the playoff behind Kelly Bryant. Lawrence won the 2018 title. It was obvious that Clemson would win again, with the rest of the ACC failing to meet the challenge in its most recent run.
Everyone expected the transition from Lawrence, to D.J. Uiagalelei should be as smooth. Uiagalelei performed well in two games last season without Lawrence. He put up impressive passing numbers against Boston College and against Notre Dame. He actually had some work that we could judge him on. That work indicated that he would continue where Lawrence left off.
Clemson's offense had some issues last year that have been even more evident this season. Clemson's offensive line was average last year, and Justyn Ross had left Clemson without a real downfield receiver threat. Travis Etienne helped to mask some of these issues and his loss may be the most significant for this Clemson offense. Etienne made the offensive line look respectable and was an inspiration for all players, including the passers.
The offensive line woes have gotten worse. Clemson lacks a running game. Even with Ross back, Clemson can't get much going in the passing game. This is not the ideal combination for any young quarterback, especially one with so many expectations.
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All signs were present. We ignored the signs because Clemson is the best. It was hard to believe that Clemson would be this season even though the Tigers lost to Georgia by three points. Georgia boasts one of the most formidable defenses in the nation.
Clemson's offense was not as sharp in the game against FCS South Carolina State. The Tigers played much the same against Georgia Tech as they did against Georgia. However, they did score an offensive touchdown (progress?). Tony Elliott, the offensive coordinator and coach of NC State, vowed to make improvements as they entered the game.
Clemson managed to move the ball barely after Clemson scored a touchdown in the first quarter. The Tigers had only 10 first downs, which was another eye-opening performance. They actually had more penalties than first downs which is a sad reflection of where the team stands after four games.
Since 2015, Clemson has been led by Dabo Swinney to the CFP. The Tigers are now in the position to win the ACC title. Rob Kinnan/USA TODAY Sports
Swinney was then asked if he can recall the last time his offense suffered so much.
He said "It's taken a long, very long time," before guessing that it was 2010.
This was 10 seasons ago.
Elliott found it difficult to provide answers and said they would need to "evaluate everything." As coaches, it's our responsibility to create a plan that gives kids the best chance of success. From there, they must do their part and make some plays.
This season, that hasn't happened. The coaches tried to explain, but they are still puzzled by the whole thing. They aren't used to being at 2-2 and having no control over the ACC and playoff races so early in the season.
Swinney stated that nobody was expecting to be at 2-2 right now. He said, "It has been a long while since we've been at this point." "We thought that we would be 4-0."
Clemson has done this every September since 2015. Clemson has done this every September since 2015, even though it suffered a loss in the regular season. It lost to Syracuse in November 2016, Pitt in November 2016, and Notre Dame in November 2020.
Although Clemson had to overcome the losses to NC State and Clemson, this loss to NC State means that the Tigers must climb a steeper mountain if they want to win the Atlantic Division title. Clemson still has the best chance of winning the ACC, according to ESPN's FPI. However, those odds have fallen from 57% to Saturday's game to 27.5%.
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Swinney stated that his team would return to work Monday in an effort to win another game. The next game presents a challenge: 4-0 Boston College will be in town after almost upsetting the Tigers last year.
This will not be the Clemson season that anyone expected, no matter what happens. Swinney states that his only expectation is for his team to be "the best we can" but it might not be enough to win another ACC title. It is not possible to appear at the CFP.
Down seasons aren't something that teams can ignore. Alabama missed the playoff but emerged stronger than ever before. This is not the first time that the Tigers have had to experience these difficulties during their long playoff run.
They will not be able to move forward in an automatic fashion.
The ACC is not the only one.
