Clemson’s Unexpected Path to Redemption, Tigers Not Finished
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For a coach who often preaches the importance of looking forward—what Dabo Swinney calls the “windshield mentality”—Saturday night brought a rare moment of introspection. The typically future-focused Swinney glanced into the rearview mirror, lamenting missed opportunities that defined Clemson’s regular season. Reflecting on 2024, the normally optimistic coach spoke with an air of finality.
“We could have had a great season,” Swinney said, weighing what might have been. “But you’ve got to win that game to have a great year, right? And we didn’t get it done.”
The plan was in place. Clemson battled their way back into position, pushing South Carolina to the brink in a charged Death Valley. Trailing 17-14 with seconds remaining, quarterback Cade Klubnik orchestrated a textbook two-minute drive, setting up the Tigers in field goal range.
Overtime seemed inevitable; a win was tantalizingly close. Then came the moment that defined the season. The Tigers just needed to finish.
With the clock ticking, Klubnik dropped back and inexplicably scrambled out of the pocket. Instead of throwing the ball away or opting for a safer play, he forced a pass toward running back Phil Mafah. The decision was ill-advised, a heart-sinking moment before the ball even reached its target. It was tipped and intercepted, sealing South Carolina’s dramatic 17-14 victory and silencing Memorial Stadium.
“Obviously, we’re in a position to, at a minimum, get a field goal,” Swinney said, his usual upbeat demeanor dulled by the gravity of the loss. “We just made a bad decision right there. We wanted to take a shot outside, and for some reason, he scrambled—even if it’s complete, it doesn’t help us.”
The loss was more than a rivalry defeat or a missed opportunity to end the season strong. For a team that made "finishing" its mantra, failing to execute in the season's biggest moment against an archrival hit especially hard.
“So many positives that we can build on,” Swinney said. “We’ve got a heck of a team, and a lot of the core of our guys will be back. There’s certainly a lot to be proud of.”
Much of that core includes Klubnik, whose sophomore season was both thrilling and frustrating. While he showcased brilliance in key victories, critical mistakes—like the interception against South Carolina—defined his learning curve.
“Sad, I’m sad, man,” Klubnik admitted after the loss, his voice heavy with emotion. “I left it all out there, and at the end of the day, they made a few more plays than we did. Just sad.”
Still, Klubnik praised his teammates. “Those front five or six absolutely battled their ass off,” he said. “I didn’t feel much pressure all night. Our receivers played so well, made so many big-time plays. We’ve just got to find a way to finish.”
As the Tigers left the field with their heads down, an unexpected twist brought renewed hope.
In a blink, Clemson’s playoff aspirations unraveled, and Miami appeared poised to secure an ACC Championship Game berth, leading Syracuse 21-0 in what seemed like a routine win. But college football thrives on chaos. Syracuse mounted a furious comeback, shocking Miami in one of the season’s most improbable results.
“Hey, Dabo Swinney, congrats! I got you in,” Syracuse head coach Fran Brown quipped in his ESPN postgame interview. Miami’s second conference loss in three weeks catapulted Clemson into their 10th ACC Championship Game, reviving faint hopes of redemption.
For Clemson fans, the news softened the sting of the rivalry loss. Just hours after facing the woulda, coulda, and shoulda conversations, the Tigers will now face SMU in Charlotte with an opportunity to claim their ninth ACC title under Swinney—and, more importantly, a College Football Playoff berth.
Clemson’s season isn’t finished yet.
They’ll head to Charlotte against an ACC newcomer riding high in their debut season. It’s not the path Clemson envisioned in August—or even after the South Carolina loss—but it’s a chance to rewrite the narrative of 2024.
“We got better in a lot of ways this season,” Swinney reflected. “For us, it’s about taking what we’ve learned, what we’ve built, and finishing strong.”
Clemson’s playoff hopes are alive, but their journey is far from complete. With a win in Charlotte, the Tigers can still end the season with a trophy and momentum for what lies ahead. As Swinney and his team prepare for one last battle, they carry the weight of what could have been—and the determination to write a new ending—a better finish, if you will.
