Clemson’s ‘D’ again dominates
Tigers show Va. Tech why they are real threat to repeat national title
The play will be a staple of highlights for a while. Clemson defensive end Austin Bryant leaped, reached backward and snared an interception with one hand. It was a jaw-dropping example of the athletic ability on the Tigers’ dominant defensive front.
“Wow,” Tigers coach Dabo Swinney said. “What do you say, but just, ‘Wow.’ ”
That goes for the entire performance in a 31-17 victory at Virginia Tech. But Bryant’s interception was one of several moments that encapsulated why Clemson was never in real danger of being upset Saturday night — and why the Tigers are a very real threat to win another national championship. Lane Stadium was vibrating with energy. But Clemson methodically extinguished the Hokies’ upset hopes.
Bryant’s interception was one of three turnovers. As teammates and coaches marveled, he admitted to being frustrated by one thing. “I was mad that I fell,” he said. “I probably could have been in the end zone.”
Another teammate, linebacker Dorian O’Daniel, had gotten there on the previous possession. But earlier, Bryant had been the catalyst in another play that was at least as impressive and maybe more indicative of the Tigers’ overall ability. Virginia Tech went for it on fourth-and-3 near midfield, throwing a bubble screen toward the sideline. That’s where Bryant, a 6-5, 265pounder, lined up. He smothered receiver Sean Savoy. The play lost 5 yards.
“We’ve got a long way to go,” Swinney cautioned. “Five games don’t make a season unless they’re gonna just cancel October and November and just give us a bye.”
In college football’s wacky tumult, no one should fast-forward anyone anywhere. But in a lot of ways, Clemson’s MO looks very much like what we’ve seen in recent years from Alabama.
Just don’t suggest the parallel to Clelin Ferrell. The sophomore defensive end grins, but he does not like the idea.
“That’s a good compliment,” Ferrell said. “But I feel like we’re a lot different than Alabama. A lot of people feel like Alabama’s defense kind of made up for some of the slack from their offense last year, with them having a young quarterback.”
A SIGNATURE VICTORY
When the buses rumbled onto campus about 4:30 a.m. Sunday, a couple of hundred fans were waiting. Yeah, Troy’s 24-21 victory over LSU was meaningful.
On one hand, it shouldn’t be that surprising. Troy’s been close — as recently as last year, losing 30-24 at Clemson.
“This is a significant win,” Trojans coach Neal Brown said. “I don’t try to downplay it. It’s significant for our kids and for our university. … We’ve had so many of these close calls. Our message to our team (last week) was, ‘Are we the team that can get over the hump?’ Because we’ve been a top (Group of Five) program, but we haven’t had one of these signature wins.”
Despite LSU’s struggles this season, an upset seemed unlikely going in. The Tigers were favored by almost three touchdowns. In its previous two games, Troy (4-1) had nipped New Mexico State and Akron by three and five points, respectively. But Brown liked the matchup, especially Troy’s defense against LSU’s struggling offense.
“It wasn’t a fluke,” Brown said. “It wasn’t like we came in and tricked ’em. We didn’t run a single trick play. We didn’t do anything on special teams. All we did was come in and played football.”
RE-EVALUATING AUBURN
For much of the season’s first month, a segment of the Auburn fan base chattered angrily about the Tigers’ offensive performances. A 14-6 loss at Clemson was seen not as a very solid performance against a defense — against a team — that might be the nation’s best, but instead through the perspective of offensive inadequacy.
As the calendar turns to October, let’s turn the prism slightly and take another look. It turns out the Tigers might be pretty good. After a 49-10 victory against Mississippi State, Auburn is 4-1. Its defense is formidable. And as transfer quarterback Jarrett Stidham has found his footing, the offense has become explosive. Saturday marked the Tigers’ third consecutive 500yard performance.
“I think it’s starting to come together,” Auburn coach Gus Malzahn told USA TODAY Sports on Sunday. “I think we can keep building on things. … We knew had the potential of being a good team before the season. You can tell we’re going in the right direction to do that.”
THE FOOTBALL FOUR
Each week, we pick the Playoff bracket as if the season was over. With the first month finished, the eye test remains huge, but bodies of work are being built.
Clemson: The Tigers don’t have the single most impressive victory, but they have the best collection of them. They might also have the best defense.
Alabama: That win over Florida State doesn’t look quite as impressive, considering the Seminoles’ travails since. But all ’Bama has done is ratchet up the dominance in beating SEC opponents Vanderbilt and Mississippi by a combined 125-3.
Oklahoma: The Sooners took the weekend off. Through four games, the convincing win at Ohio State remains a huge résumé point. Penn State: The Nittany Lions haven’t yet showed they’re fazed by their new status as favorites — latest, a 45-14 win against Indiana. Big tests ahead, but so far so good for Saquon Barkley and Co.