Clemson’s 28-20 win over North Carolina on Saturday did more than open ACC play with a victory. It gave the Tigers a clear read on which players helped swing the game and which ones still have ground to make up.
The biggest stock boost came from true freshman quarterback Reynolds, who left with his first win as a starter after a game that demanded composure. Clemson’s coaching staff pushed him to “grow up” during the afternoon, and he responded with a steadier second half after some early turbulence.
Reynolds finished with 215 passing yards and a touchdown through the air, plus 25 rushing yards, and he looked more comfortable as the game wore on. Compared with his extended action against Georgia Southern, he made more of the right reads and kept finding ways to evade North Carolina defenders.
That mattered because Clemson went into the game without another starting-caliber quarterback to lean on if things went sideways. In the first half, they did. But by the end, the Tigers had reason to believe Reynolds can be a real answer for the offense going forward.
Davidson also made a major leap in the win. The sophomore ran for his first 100-yard game and scored his first touchdown, which at the time gave Clemson the lead.
He finished with 6.6 yards per carry and brought a noticeable burst to the offense, especially on a 10-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. The energy he brought on each carry helped Clemson settle into a more balanced rhythm, something that should matter again when the Tigers head west to face Cal on Friday.
Up front, Clemson made a second-half change that could reshape the conversation along the offensive line. The Tigers pulled starter O’Connell and inserted freshman Grant Wise at right guard, and Swinney praised the first-year player’s work in the trenches. The move also reopened the question of what Clemson wants on the right side for the rest of the season, especially with the Tigers having struggled to run the ball early before finishing with a stronger third and fourth quarter.
Clemson only had 41 rushing yards in the first half, and that sluggish start came with the starters on the right side in the game. Once the Tigers found more balance, the offense looked much more like itself. That makes the upcoming decision at offensive line one of the more interesting ones heading into Cal.
On defense, the biggest concern was the run game. North Carolina averaged 6.2 yards per carry, and junior Andy Burburija took much of the heat for it.
He finished with two total tackles, but the overall defensive tackle rotation outplayed him. That’s a problem for a position group still searching for stability, especially with more pieces set to return soon.
In my opinion, Burburija hasn’t taken advantage of the chance in front of him.
There were brighter moments in the middle of the defense, though. Graduate lineman Vic Burley recovered a fumble in his first game back from suspension, and Cothran delivered a key forced fumble in the third quarter during limited action.
Cothran finished with two total tackles and punched the ball loose from Tar Heels running back Demon June, setting Clemson up in the red zone. The Tigers only came away with a field goal on the next drive, but the play still fed the momentum that carried them through the final 30 minutes.
The former walk-on has put together a strong case for more snaps, and if he keeps showing up like this, it would not be surprising to see his role grow as the season goes on.
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Clemson's Needed Win Over UNC Still Left Fans With One Big Debate
Clemson got the result it needed against North Carolina, and Tyler Brown helped seal it with a late touchdown run in the Tigers 28-20 win. The defense still had to finish the job, coming up with a late interception to close out the game, but the way Brown handled the final moments quickly became part of the postgame conversation.
Dabo Swinney said he had told his players to stay inbounds and get down after first downs, though he had not given Brown that specific instruction. That left fans debating the choice to score instead of sliding and ending things there, even in a win that gave Clemson a much-needed boost. [Read more 🡒]
Clemson Weather Delay Freezes A Brutal Moment For Tar Heels Fans
A tense finish in Memorial Stadium came to an abrupt stop late Saturday when Clemsons game with North Carolina was delayed by lightning in the area. With the Tar Heels pressing deep in Tiger territory, the weather alert forced both teams off the field and sent fans searching for cover as the stadium emptied under the warning.
North Carolina had a slim lead and was threatening again when the pause hit, leaving a tight fourth quarter hanging in the balance. Extra shelters were opened at Littlejohn Coliseum and the Fike Recreation Center, but for both sideline and stands, the bigger question now is how long the hold will last and what kind of finish awaits when play resumes. [Read more 🡒]
Clemson May Have Found The QB This Season Desperately Needed
Clemsons 21-20 comeback against North Carolina did more than salvage a tense afternoon. It gave the Tigers a much-needed glimpse of what their offense could look like with freshman quarterback Tait Reynolds steering it, and paired with the emergence of running back Gideon Davidson, it offered a hint that this roster may have a few building blocks worth leaning on as the season unfolds.
The challenge now is making sure that glimpse turns into something more durable, because Clemsons long-term questions are still right there in front of it. Reynolds got the opportunity after Chris Vizzinas left arm injury opened the door, and the Tigers will spend the coming weeks finding out whether what they saw in Chapel Hill was a one-game lift or the start of a real shift in direction for a team that badly needed one. [Read more 🡒]