CLEMSON, S.C. – After a rollercoaster start to the season, Clemson’s hopes for a successful outcome were dampened following a disappointing loss at home to Louisville last week. This defeat reignited discussions regarding the team’s talent, depth, and competitiveness against top-tier programs.
Receiver Bryant Wesco Jr. expressed the team’s belief in their abilities, stating, “We felt we were a better team.” The Tigers, currently ranked 19th with a record of 6-2 and 5-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), suffered a 33-21 setback, which not only affected their standing in the ACC but also put their aspirations for the College Football Playoff in jeopardy. The loss allowed the Cardinals to secure a spot in the rankings at No. 25.
Reflecting on their performance, Wesco, a freshman who leads the team with an impressive 17.5 yards per catch and boasts the longest touchdown of the season—a 76-yard catch against Appalachian State—acknowledged mistakes made during the game. He mentioned, “We know that we are a lot better than what we showed out. We know we can’t control whether we make it to the playoffs, but we just have to go out and finish like we did last year.”
Last season, Clemson managed to rally from a rough 4-4 start to secure victories in their final five games. However, this time around, securing wins in their remaining games, starting with a match against Virginia Tech, may not be enough to clinch a spot in the league championship, especially with undefeated teams like No. 4 Miami and No. 13 SMU still thriving in ACC play.
The home defeat raised familiar concerns following Clemson’s earlier loss to then-No. 1 Georgia, which left fans questioning coach Dabo Swinney’s management of a program not seen in the playoffs since 2020 after qualifying for six consecutive seasons prior. When asked if he regretted the absence of a defensive lineman from the transfer portal amidst injuries to key players, Swinney remained steadfast, stating, “We love our roster. Sometimes you have injuries, and things like that, so we do not have any regrets on how we put our roster together this past year.”
Fortunately, starters Tre Williams and Peter Woods are on track to play against the Hokies, although DeMonte Capehart may require additional time to recover from an ankle injury. When inquiries about the loss to Louisville continued, Swinney urged reporters to move on: “That game is over. Guys, let’s move on.”
However, Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik admitted that moving forward poses challenges. After throwing for 228 yards in the loss—which was just ahead of a prior low of 142 yards suffered during the opening loss to Georgia—Klubnik dedicated time to reviewing game film following the defeat. He noted, “It’s easy to think about the outcome a lot. We’re not in full control of our destiny anymore and that’s a tough thing to accept. But we are in control of going to play the best game that we can this week.”
Clemson’s defensive performance disappointed many fans, especially as they allowed 30 or more points for the second consecutive game; this marked a stark contrast to their previous outing where they outscored Virginia 48-31, albeit with a significant lead that offered some leeway for defensive lapses. Linebacker Barrett Carter added, “I just know being a leader on this team, I can’t dwell on something like that. Us as a team, we can’t dwell on anything like that either.”
Swinney emphasized that it’s several young players who must learn to move on from setbacks while still acknowledging their previous successes during a six-game winning streak this season. “There’s always a lesson,” he remarked, observing the emotional challenges facing these young athletes.
As preparations ramp up ahead of the upcoming game, quarterback Klubnik encapsulated the team’s mindset succinctly: “Let’s go play our best game on Saturday.”