When you are program the stature of Clemson, you play for National Titles, Playoff Berths, and Conference Titles. The first two goals were history before the leaves changed for the Clemson Tigers this year. Even an ACC title seemed a remote prospect.
The Tigers through mid-October were a total mess of an offensive team. Games to the likes of Syracuse and Georgia Tech went to the final possession. This clearly was a team at a cross roads, and there even whispers of missing a bowl game.
Through it all Brent Venables’s defense kept the season afloat. Clemson won 5 games by 10 points or less. They made late defensive stops against Georgia Tech, Syracuse, Boston College, Florida State and an epic goaline stand against Louisville to preserve that game.
If Clemson could ever find any offense, they stood a chance to be a top 25 team again.
Against UCONN, Clemson scored 44 points, but that was UCONN. #10 ranked Wake Forest came to Clemson with a chance to clinch the Atlantic Division. The Demon Deacons had a suspect defense, but Clemson had struggled to move the ball on any Power 5 team they played.
Saturday Clemson reminded everyone why Death Valley is the toughest place to win at in College Football. Clemson had 33 straight home wins coming into their game with Wake Forest.
Finally Clemson looked like the pre-season top 5 team that started the season. Wake Forest was held to a season low 27 points and 406 yards of offense. While Clemson racked up 543 yards and 48 points. The Tigers also ran for a whopping 333 yards.
There had been signs the Clemson offensive line was beginning to run-block better, but QB DJ Uiagalelei still didn’t look in command of the offense.
He did Saturday, playing his highest rated game of the season.
Credit must be given to Dabo Swinney and his staff who’ve taken a lot criticism this season. Short handed at wide receiver, and playing largely for pride, Clemson has kept improving. Swinney never lost the team, and now it’s paying dividends.
Clemson still isn’t great offensive team. They won’t be this season, but if the offense is just OK, the defense can manage the rest. Wake Forest is a good football team, but Clemson controlled the game basically from start to finish.
The is a Tiger team that has trended upward the entire second half of the season.
If they can close out the regular season with a win over South Carolina it will would complete the turnaround to the season. With anyluck and it would take both Wake Forest and NC State losing next week, Clemson could find itself back in Charlotte.
Who would though there would be any chance of that a month ago?
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