Clemson racked up 503 yards but failed where it mattered most — the red zone and critical downs. Cade Klubnik threw for 363 yards and three touchdowns, yet turnovers and missed opportunities defined the night.
“We had a ton of yards, but you don’t get style points for yards. The name of the game is finishing, and we just didn’t do that,” Swinney said.
Drops, a missed touchdown to T.J. Moore, and Adam Randall’s costly fumble all added up. Clemson had more first downs, more yards per rush, and better third-down efficiency than Syracuse — but couldn’t cash it in.