As Clemson kept building on its first-quarter lead during the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship Game earlier this month, Hurricanes defensive coordinator Manny Diaz looked up and down the Hurricanes sideline and was befuddled.
Around him, the players that had once held the No. 2 spot in the College Football Playoff rankings and had won 15 consecutive games dating back to last season appeared to be wide-eyed and stunned.
It was clear the defending national champion Tigers were comfortable on the championship stage. The Hurricanes, making their first appearance in the conference title game, were not.
Ultimately, Clemson wore down the Hurricanes, handing them a humbling 38-3 loss that eliminated them from the national championship picture but set them up for another big moment: Saturday’s Orange Bowl showdown with No.