Rapid Reaction: Clemson downs South Carolina, finish the regular season with eight wins
No. 24 Clemson downs South Carolina to finish the regular season 8-4. A bowl game awaits.
If ever there was an encapsulation for Clemson's season, the final regular season game provided it.
Clemson's defense, elite all season gave up just 169 yards and scored as many points as they allowed. Offensively, Clemson didn't look a whole lot better than they did in week one's loss at Duke. There was no situational awareness, a turnover kept the game closer than it should've been, and there wasn't even a semblance of rhythm in the 16-7 win.
Khalil Barnes had two takeaways and a touchdown in three plays.
Takeaways
- This defense shouldn't be forgotten. Guys like Ruke Orhorhoro, Tyler Davis, and Xavier Thomas came back for one more season of college football and were the backbone of an elite unit. At the same time, a plethora of young guys, led by Khalil Barnes, were the added spice the defense needed when older guys went down. South Carolina never had a pulse in this game because of the suffocating play of this defense, something every team they've played this year has experienced.
- The offense needs to go back to the drawing board. There's no heart, no flare, nothing creative. Whether that's coaching or execution is debatable, but in twelve games Clemson's offense never found its footing.
- Where has this Jonathan Weitz been?! Field goals of 50, 49, and 42 yards were the difference in the game. Earlier this season, Weitz looked like the students Pat McAfee brings on College GameDay to try and kick field goals. On Saturday night in a rocking Williams-Brice Stadium, he looked like an All-Pro
Clemson now awaits a bowl berth. Where Clemson goes remains to be seen but with N.C. State housing UNC, it's looking like one of the Florida bowls.
