{"id":147586,"date":"2022-12-04T05:57:57","date_gmt":"2022-12-04T05:57:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/clemson-finally-makes-qb-switch-trounces-north-carolina-to-win-acc-title\/"},"modified":"2022-12-04T05:57:57","modified_gmt":"2022-12-04T05:57:57","slug":"clemson-finally-makes-qb-switch-trounces-north-carolina-to-win-acc-title","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/clemson-finally-makes-qb-switch-trounces-north-carolina-to-win-acc-title\/","title":{"rendered":"Clemson finally makes QB switch, trounces North Carolina to win ACC title"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik (2) celebrates his touchdown with offensive lineman Mitchell Mayes (77) in the ACC championship game against North Carolina on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, in Charlotte, NC (AP Photo\/Jacob Kupferman)<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n

With quarterback DJ Uiagalelei playing inconsistently for much of the season, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney scoffed about the idea of \u200b\u200bmaking a change when the idea was brought up by the media.<\/p>\n

But after the Tigers’ first two possessions of the ACC title game vs. North Carolina resulted in a total of seven yards and two punts, Swinney did just that.<\/p>\n

He removed the veteran Uiagalelei in favor of the hyped-up freshman, Cade Klubnik. Klubnik provided an instant spark to the offense and led Clemson to its seventh ACC title in eight seasons.<\/p>\n

In the 39-10 win, Klubnik threw for 279 yards on 20-of-24 passing, rushed for 30 yards and combined for two total touchdowns.<\/p>\n

Amid its slow start with Uiagagelei at quarterback, Clemson fell behind 7-0 and looked lifeless \u2014 until Klubnik came to the rescue.<\/p>\n

Clemson marched right down the field and evened the score on Klubnik’s first series on the field. And after a UNC fumble, Clemson was quickly ahead 14-7 with 35 seconds left in the first quarter.<\/p>\n

On Clemson’s ensuing possession, Klubnik connected with Cole Turner on a gorgeous deep ball down the left sideline for a 68-yard gain, setting himself up for a one-yard rushing score.<\/p>\n

Clemson then added to the lead with a field goal before halftime, turning that early 7-0 deficit into a 24-10 lead at the break.<\/p>\n

In the second half, the defense took over. UNC, led by its own star freshman quarterback, Drake Maye, drove deep into Clemson territory in the third quarter. But Maye made a horrible mistake, throwing the ball into traffic on third-and-goal. Nate Wiggins picked off the errant pass and returned it 98 yards for a touchdown.<\/p>\n

That defensive touchdown added to a lead that was far too large to overcome as the Tigers completely controlled play in the second half en route to a blowout victory.<\/p>\n

While returning to the top of the ACC after falling short last year is something Clemson will celebrate, it’s hard not to wonder what the ceiling of this Clemson team may have been had Swinney made a quarterback switch at some point during the regular season.<\/p>\n