The Clemson Insider · Sep 20, 2025
Swinney: ‘That’s About as Bad a Start Defensively as I’ve Seen’
Clemson’s defense got gashed in the first half of Saturday’s game against Syracuse, and that might be an understatement.
The Orange (2-1) scored three touchdowns, added a field goal and led the Tigers (1-2), 24-14, after two quarters at Death Valley.
Syracuse possessed the ball six times and amassed a whopping 303 total yards (180 passing, 123 rushing) and 18 first downs. Syracuse scored on each of its first four drives before Clemson finally forced punts on the fifth and sixth possessions.
The Orange averaged 6.9 yards per play, 11.3 yards per completion and 6.5 yards per rush.