Final: Clemson 31, Virginia Tech 17

This game was supposed to be the biggest challenge of the season, even more so than Louisville. Instead, Clemson (5-0, 3-0) walked into Lane Stadium and dominated on both sides of the football, pushing Virginia Tech (4-1, 0-1) around on their way to a 31-17 victory, the 12th straight true road victory for the Tigers. 

The Clemson defense got things started, forcing a three and out against the young quarterback Josh Jackson. The offense took the field and converted multiple third-down conversions, highlighted by a 27-yard pass from Kelly Bryant to Ray-Ray McCloud on a third and six, and then a 16-yard completion to Hunter Renfrow on third and seven. Alex Spence would eventually hit a 23-yard field goal to give Clemson a 3-0 lead. 

After the Clemson defense forced another three and out, the offense went back to work. On third and four from the Clemson 40, Tavien Feaster found himself all alone in the flats. Kelly Bryant dumped it off, and Feaster raced 60 yards to give Clemson a 10-0 lead. 

The two teams would trade multiple punts into the second quarter before the Clemson offense would find life again. The Tigers would drive down to the Hokies' 23-yard line, but two incompletions by Kelly Bryant would lead the Tigers to attempt a field goal. The kick would sail wide right, leaving the score at 10-0.

Virginia Tech would take advantage, marching 52 yards in 10 plays and connecting on a 43-yard field goal to cut the Clemson lead to 10-3 with 3:10 to play in the first half. But much as they did against Louisville, Clemson would get the offense rolling right before halftime. Bryant would connect with Deon Cain on passes of 35 and 20 yards, and CJ Fuller would run it in from a yard out to give Clemson a 17-3 lead which they would take into the half. 

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Dabo Swinney and Cornerback Trayvon Mullen sing the Clemson Alma Mater.

Clemson would go three and out to start the second half, but a fumble would give the Tigers the ball back at the midfield. Bryant would showcase his running ability on this drive, running six times for 42 yards, and Tavien Feaster would run it in from a yard out to up the Clemson lead to 24-3. 

Clemson seemed content to sit on the lead and just rely on their defense, but a big punt return by Virginia Tech set them up at the Clemson two-yard line to start the fourth quarter, and they would punch it in to make the score 24-10.  The Hokies defense would come to life, forcing a three and out, but Dorian O'Daniel would come up with a 22-yard pick-six on the ensuing drive, pushing the Tigers' lead to 31-10. Austin Bryant would come up with an interception of his own on the next drive. 

With the game well in hand and the backups for the Tigers in, Josh Jackson would lead a drive for the Hokies and connect with Sean Savoy from 30 yards out to make the final margin 31-17. 

The 31-17 win in Blacksburg gave Clemson three wins over top 15 teams in September. The Tigers became the first team in the history of college football to pull off that feat.