The Clemson Tigers have hauled in top-10 recruiting classes each of the past four years. Conversely, in that time the Pittsburgh Panthers have just one recruiting class inside the top 40. Despite this disparity, Clemson came into Pittsburgh as 3.5-point underdogs.
The Tigers showed just enough offensive spark early on to give fans hope. They would move the ball reasonably well until a critical error derailed the drive. A false start and misthrow doomed their opening drive. An interception on a play where the receiver didn’t fight for the ball ended the next. Dropped passes became contagious as Will Shipley dropped a wide-open pass destined for a TD and then on the following drive wide receivers Beaux Collins, Ajou Ajou, and Justyn Ross all failed to grab catchable balls.