Clemson, S.C. – On a hot and humid afternoon in the South, the No. 19 Clemson Tigers (2-1) seized control early against the North Carolina State Wolfpack (2-2), jumping to a commanding 28-0 lead by the end of the first quarter.
While the heat had Clemson fans sweating, it was the Wolfpack defense that truly felt the pressure. After a tough week 1 loss to No. 2 Georgia, where Clemson’s offense looked out of sync and quarterback Cade Klubnik struggled to find his footing, the Tigers were determined to make a statement.
“Explosive and consistent,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said of his team’s offensive turnaround. “They’re just taking what’s there. Our quarterback’s blossoming right before our eyes.” Klubnik, indeed, showcased his growth, completing 7 of 8 passes for 77 yards and two touchdowns in the first quarter alone.
This followed a standout week two performance against Appalachian State, where Klubnik went 24-for-26 for 378 yards and five touchdowns, also rushing for two more scores. Against NC State, he added to his highlight reel with a 55-yard touchdown run on the opening drive, the longest by a Clemson QB since Trevor Lawrence’s 67-yard score against Ohio State in 2019.
“This is two games in a row where we’ve come out of the gate in the first half and played with a lot of precision,” Swinney added. “But there’s still a long way to go. You can’t play to a scoreboard; you’ve got to play to a standard, and that’s what we’re trying to do.”
Critics who had written off Clemson from ACC title contention are now receiving a clear message: “Not so fast.” In their conference opener, the Tigers made a bold statement, reminding everyone of their championship pedigree.
Despite missing key defensive lineman Peter Woods, who was sidelined due to a chop block injury in the Appalachian State game, and standout wide receiver Tyler Brown, who rolled his ankle last week, Clemson dominated the first half.
The final score, 59-35, may suggest a closer contest than it was, but the Tigers controlled the game, especially in the first half. By midway through the third quarter, Swinney had begun pulling most of his starters, allowing Clemson fans, likely worn down by the heat, to exit the stadium content with their team’s performance.
NC State head coach Dave Doeren acknowledged the uphill battle his team faced, stating, “There’s a lot to work on,” and predicting a “tough day” for his players during Sunday’s film session. However, he remained hopeful, reminding his team that “it’s a long season,” drawing on last year’s experience when the Wolfpack started 4-3 but still managed to finish with nine wins.
Klubnik wrapped up the game 16 of 24 for 209 yards, leaving the field after a 4-yard touchdown pass to Adam Randall early in the third quarter. Running back Phil Mafah contributed 107 yards on the ground, marking his second consecutive game with over 100 yards rushing. The 59 points Clemson scored were the most in an ACC game since their 62-17 victory over Virginia in the ACC Championship five years ago. This victory also marked a milestone for the program, being Clemson’s 800th win, making them the 14th FBS team and the first ACC school to reach this achievement.
Clemson’s defense also played a pivotal role, forcing three turnovers and sacking NC State freshman quarterback C.J. Bailey three times. Freshman cornerback Ashton Hampton added to the highlight reel with a pick-six, further cementing the Tigers’ dominance. With this win, Clemson improved to 2-1 overall and 1-0 in the ACC, setting the stage for their next challenge against Stanford.
With their offense firing on all cylinders and a defense proving its worth, the Tigers look poised to continue their resurgence.
Up Next:
N.C. State plays home to play No. 23 Northern Illinois on Saturday.
The Tigers finishes a three-game home stand against Stanford on Saturday night.
