'Pack it in
Clemson CFP shot on life support after 2-OT loss to N.C. State
RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina State forced D.J. Uiagalelei into a fourth-down incompletion in the second overtime to beat ninthranked Clemson, 27-21, on Saturday, an outcome that will shake up the Atlantic Coast Conference race and deal a huge blow to the Tigers’ College Football Playoff hopes.
Uiagagelei slightly overthrew Justyn Ross near the goal line on fourth down to end this one, sending the Wolfpack sprinting in from the sideline followed immediately by red-clad fans pouring onto the field to celebrate N.C. State’s first win in the series in a decade.
Devin Leary threw for four touchdowns, including the winning 22-yard pass to Devin Carter — who made a twisting adjustment to the back-shoulder throw and got both knees down inside the back right corner of the end zone for the lead to start the second OT.
N.C. State (3-1, 1-0 ACC) controlled play most of the way, nearly doubling Clemson in total offense through regulation while converting more than half of its thirddown chances to stay on the field. The Wolfpack also won despite a penalty-filled day and three missed field goals from normally reliable kicker Christopher Dunn, including him pulling a 39yarder to end regulation wide left and give the Tigers another shot.
“I don’t think the scoreboard was indicative of how we played,” Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren said. “I thought we controlled the ball, won the line of scrimmage, didn’t flinch.”
It was a brutal day for the Tigers (2-2, 1-1), who now have a second loss to make it an unlikely climb to extend their streak of making every year of the playoff since the first edition in 2014.
It also is a big setback in the Atlantic Division for the six-time league champions. Injuries mounted for Clemson with linebacker James Skalski, defensive tackle Bryan Bresee and running back Will Shipley being knocked from the game.
The Tigers came in having scored just 17 points in their two games against Bowl Subdivision opponents, including failing to reach the end zone in their seasonopening loss to No. 2 Georgia. Nothing in this game alleviated any of those offensive concerns. The Tigers struggled to block up front to consistently sustain drives and finished with just 214 total yards.
“The criticism is warranted because that’s where we are right now,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. “You know what? That comes with the territory because the expectation and the standard at Clemson and who we are, we’re not meeting it. It’s just that simple.”