We were looking at this whole week and hoping for the best, while also looking NC State’s thoroughly mediocre offensive performance to date square in the eye. Personally I was trying to see what ignoring that particular elephant in the room might do. Alas.
Clemson was simply better than NC State from start to finish on Saturday night, and the Wolfpack could not find the big plays necessary to flip this game on its head. At least one big play, some random turnover or kick return or whatever, was going to be necessary, because the Tigers’ defense had NC State’s offense well bottled-up and playing from behind almost all night.