Just last week, there were signs that Clemson might be able to finish the season strongly. They had won at FSU and at Syracuse. Were they things beauty? No, but there was some optimism that maybe the offense under QB Tait Reynolds was showing signs of life, enough to at least keep teams honest.
Defense was still where Clemson had to win with. With 2-7 Georgia Tech coming to town, Clemson fans had to feel like a 7-3 record was right there for the taking. That would build some momentum for tougher games against Duke and South Carolina down the stretch.
Someone forgot to tell Georgia Tech as they played their most inspired football of the entire season, beating Clemson 20-6. It was a stunning loss that derailed any momentum Clemson had built.
Tait Reynolds was hurt early in the game, which would hurt Clemson offensively, but that doesn’t tell the story of the game. Georgia Tech had nothing to play for but pride. Clemson was at home, on senior day, with at least a remote shot of getting to the ACC Title game.
Clemson defensively was manhandled upfront by a Georgia Tech offense that had struggled all season to the tune of giving up over 250 yards on the ground. QBs Trent Pearman and Christopher Vizzina were largely ineffective. Clemson offensive line had a nightmare game against one of the worst defenses in college football.
Credit Georgia Tech for playing their best game of the year, but what in the world happened to Clemson? It is the kind of loss that should have Dabo Swinney evaluating every level of his football program. Why was Clemson so flat? Where was the urgency?
Each time there is a glimmer, Clemson has something positive going, they take a massive step back. Opposing P4 teams are treating Death Valley like their personal playground.
I was at this game, and the atmosphere was as dead as you’ll ever see at Clemson.
Clemson could very well lose to Duke and South Carolina and be on a 3 game losing streak. Then what?
Clemson is on the verge of having to deal with some very hard questions about the direction of their program. I would expect Swinney is back, but major structural changes will need to be made in how the football program is managed. We’re talking staff changes, approach to NIL, portal.
Everything is on the table.
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