Inside the Numbers: No. 23 Clemson 24, Virginia Tech 14
1 - On the first play of the second quarter, defensive end T.J. Parker forced a fumble that was recovered by defensive tackle Tré Williams. Parker would have been credited with a sack on the play, but the fumble was recovered at the original line of scrimmage. NCAA scoring guidelines indicate that no sacks can be granted on plays that terminate at or beyond the original line of scrimmage. The forced fumble was Parker’s first of the season and the second of his career.
2 - Clemson held Virginia Tech to 2-of-14 on third down. The 14.2 percent conversion percentage is the lowest allowed by Clemson this season and its lowest since holding Georgia Tech to 12.5 percent in the 2022 season opener.
2.5 - Linebacker Sammy Brown made his first career start and recorded a team-high eight tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack. Brown’s 2.5 tackles for loss pushed his season total in the category to 9.0. He needs one more tackle for loss to become the seventh Clemson player on record to record 10 or more tackles for loss as a true freshman (T.J. Parker, 12.5 in 2023; Myles Murphy, 12.0 in 2020; Anthony Simmons, 11.0 in 1995; Xavier Thomas, 10.5 in 2018; Tyler Davis, 10.0 in 2019; and Shaq Lawson 10.0 in 2013).
3 - Clemson recorded three takeaways, matching its season high set against NC State.
4 - Wide receiver T.J. Moore scored his fourth receiving touchdown of the season when Klubnik escaped contact from a free rusher and spun around to find the freshman for a 41-yard touchdown. The 41-yard reception was a career-long for Moore, surpassing his 40-yard catch against NC State. On the touchdown pass to Moore, Klubnik (55) passed C.J. Spiller (53) for seventh in school history in career touchdown responsibility (all touchdowns scored or thrown).
6 - During the game, Cade Klubnik (5,816) passed DJ Uiagalelei (5,681 from 2020-22), Nealon Greene (5,719 from 1994-97) and Cullen Harper (5,762 from 2005-08) to move into sixth on Clemson's all-time leaderboard for career passing yardage.
8 - Clemson has now finished even or better in the turnover margin in eight straight games for the first time since an 11-game streak across the 2021-22 seasons. Dating to last season, Clemson has lost the turnover margin only once in its last 14 games.
11 - Clemson played an 11th consecutive game (dating to last season) with one giveaway or fewer for the first time since a 12-game streak across the 2019-20 seasons. Dating to last season, Clemson has seven giveaways over its last 11 games and has not had a multi-giveaway game in that span.
16 - Klubnik is now 16-7 as a starter and tied Kelly Bryant (16-2 from 2015-18) and Cullen Harper (16-9 from 2005-08) for the 15th-most wins as a starting quarterback for Clemson since World War II.
16 - Klubnik completed 16-of-34 for 211 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. He also added 30 rushing yards.
18 - Clemson trailed at halftime, 7-0. The victory marked Clemson’s 18th in Dabo Swinney’s tenure in games in which it has trailed at halftime and its first such victory since the 2023 Gator Bowl against Kentucky.
26 - Running back Phil Mafah rushed 26 times for 128 yards. During the contest, Mafah (981) set a new single-season career high in rushing yards, surpassing his 965 yards from 2023. Mafah added to his single-season career high with his sixth 100-yard rushing game of the year.
29 - Wide receiver Cole Turner recorded the second receiving touchdown of the season and of his career on a 29-yard pass from Klubnik on the opening drive of the second half. Turner’s touchdown reception was the culmination of an eight-play, 75-yard scoring drive to open the second half. On the touchdown pass to Turner, Klubnik (24) entered the Top 10 in touchdown passes in a single season in Clemson history, tying Trevor Lawrence (24 in 2020) for ninth.
40 - Virginia Tech entered the game averaging 201.4 rushing yards per game and 5.21 yards per carry. Clemson held the Virginia Tech rushing attack to season lows with 40 rushing yards and 1.90 yards per carry.
45 - Klubnik (45) moved past Cullen Harper (42 from 2005-08) for sole possession of fifth place on Clemson's all-time leaderboard for career passing touchdowns.
58 - Clemson finished +2 in the turnover margin and is now 58-1 under Dabo Swinney when finishing +2 or better in that category.
100 - Mafah has now recorded the sixth season in school history with six or more 100-yard rushing games. Travis Etienne (2018 and 2019) accomplished the feat twice; Wayne Gallman (2015), Raymond Priester (1996) and Kenny Flowers (1985) each accomplished the feat once.
113 - Tight end Jake Briningstool caught three passes for 39 yards and a touchdown. Briningstool caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from Klubnik for his career-high-tying fifth touchdown reception of the season. On the touchdown reception, Briningstool (113) broke the Clemson career record for receptions by a tight end (Jordan Leggett, 112). The touchdown was Briningstool’s 15th of his career, making him the second Clemson tight end ever to catch 15 career touchdowns (Jordan Leggett, 18).
167 - Clemson rushed for 167 yards and has now rushed for 150 yards in eight straight games for the first time since a 12-game stretch across the 2019-20 seasons.
289 - Clemson scored in its 289th consecutive game to tie the 1994-2017 Tennessee Volunteers for the 13th-longest streak in FBS history without being shut out. Clemson's active streak dates to early in the 2003 season.
Other Notes and Numbers
Clemson did not allow a touchdown on defense until there was 1:43 remaining in the fourth quarter. It would have been Clemson’s first time holding an opponent without an offensive touchdown since a 31-3 win against Boston College in 2022.
The victory was Clemson’s first in a game in which it was held scoreless in the first half since 2010 against NC State, a game Clemson won 14-13 after trailing 7-0 at halftime.
Mafah has now posted back-to-back 100-yard rushing games for the third time this season.
During the performance, Mafah (2,753) passed his former teammate Will Shipley (2,747 from 2021-23) for 11th on Clemson's all-time leaderboard for career rushing yards.
Wide receiver Antonio Williams gained 48 yards on a team-high five receptions.
During the contest, offensive linemen Blake Miller (2,491 prior to Saturday) and Walker Parks (2,486 prior to Saturday) became the 26th and 27th Clemson players in records back to 1986 to play at least 2,500 career snaps from scrimmage.
The fumble recovery was Williams’ career-high second of the season and the third of his career.
Brown recorded his fourth sack of the season in the third quarter. In doing so, Brown (4.0) moved into a tie for the fourth-most sacks by a true freshman in Clemson history.
Cornerback Ashton Hampton recorded his second interception of his true freshman season, picking off Kyron Drones with one hand in the third quarter.
Safety R.J. Mickens recorded his first interception of the season in the fourth quarter. It was the sixth of his career and his first since last year’s game against South Carolina.
With a 34-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, kicker Nolan Hauser (81) tied the Clemson record for points by a true freshman held previously by Sammy Watkins (78 in 2011).
Punter Aidan Swanson punted five times including four punts downed inside the 20. His four punts inside the 20 were a season high and were one shy of his career high set twice in 2023.
Clemson held the ball for 36:41 and has now possessed the ball for 34 or more minutes in four consecutive games for the first time since ending the 2023 season with a four-game streak.
Captains for the contest were linebacker Barrett Carter, quarterback Cade Klubnik, offensive lineman Tristan Leigh and defensive end T.J. Parker.