NC State vs. Clemson was college football Saturday’s most important game, strictly based on rankings and records. Both were undefeated, with the Wolfpack No. 16, and the Tigers No. 3 in the AP poll.
Clemson cruised past NC State after 3 nail-biters in as many years
Saturday’s biggest game on paper was far from its best. Clemson wouldn’t have it any other way.
Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports
The game was viewed as a potential test for Clemson, which they would prove it to be not much more than another stroll against a conference opponent. The Tigers won the game easily, 41-7.
It broke a trend of close games between the two opponents in the past few years.
In 2015, No. 3 ranked Clemson was up just six on a 4-3 NC State team, 26-20. Midway through the third quarter, the Tigers were able to pull ahead by 13, and never looked back in a 56-41 victory.
Their 2016 matchup was a classic that probably should have been a Wolfpack victory, but instead was another win for a Deshaun Watson-led team that would eventually win the national championship. Offensively, Clemson struggled in a game that included Watson’s first-ever pick six, and THREE missed field goals by NC State (one was a bulldozing by Clemson’s Christian Wilkins).
Watson’s pick six was the first turnover of three consecutive to start the second half of that game. NC State tied the game at 17 in the third quarter, and the game went to overtime deadlocked at that score. After a Clemson touchdown, NC State threw an interception on their very first play, and Clemson survived.
The 2017 game wasn’t nearly as close, but it was still a winnable game for NC State. The teams traded scores throughout the first half, with NC State taking a 21-17 lead into halftime. In the third quarter, Clemson scored 10 points in the final three and a half minutes, and held a 38-31 lead after an NC State field goal with 1:51 left in the game.
The Wolfpack got the ball back, and had converted on a 4th and 10 to stay alive, but it was called back due to an illegal shift. On the next play, State QB Ryan Finley threw the game-sealing interception.
Saturday’s win was much easier than any of those three, and put Clemson in the driver’s seat in the ACC Atlantic.
The Tigers are now 4-0 in the conference, with NC State and Boston College both just behind at 2-1. The rest of Clemson’s schedule isn’t particularly grueling, with the biggest games left being home games in November against Duke and South Carolina.
Unless something goes horribly wrong (hey, it could, that’s why we love this sport!), Clemson is looking prime for another Playoff appearance.
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