Clemson secures ACC Atlantic Division, but again looks far from crisp

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — A week after watching a field goal fly over the cross bar and an undefeated season fly out the window, Clemson arrived at Wake Forest looking to make a statement. And for the first 17 minutes of action, that’s exactly what happened.

After that? Same old frustrating Clemson.

Here’s what the Tigers’ 35-13 win over a beleaguered Wake Forest accomplished: Clemson secured the ACC Atlantic, will play for a conference title. Its path to the playoff remains intact. It found some traction for the running game, erased some of the demons of its first regular-season loss in two years.

But what Clemson failed to accomplish was to provide any real sense of what team will show up in…