Clemson football’s path to an ACC title and potential playoff berth narrowed significantly after a 33-21 upset loss to Louisville on Saturday night. Entering as the No. 11 team and unbeaten in ACC play, the Tigers were positioned to contend for a spot in the ACC Championship. However, with both Miami and SMU securing wins to remain undefeated in the conference, Clemson now finds itself behind in the standings.
Louisville’s offense exploited Clemson’s defense, racking up 210 rushing yards and averaging almost eight yards per carry, while the Tigers failed to record a sack or force a turnover. The offense, too, struggled to establish a rhythm, unable to capitalize on Louisville’s 76th-ranked pass defense. “We didn’t play anywhere near our best tonight,” head coach Dabo Swinney said. “It is a missed opportunity. Huge missed opportunity. We didn’t deserve to win. They absolutely deserved to win.”
Swinney took accountability, saying, “We looked like a very poorly-coached team tonight, and that’s on me. Just incredibly disappointed with our performance.” He also voiced his disappointment for fans, acknowledging that “this was a missed one tonight, for sure.”
Now, Clemson must refocus with a tough slate ahead, including Virginia Tech, Pitt, Citadel, and South Carolina. “We don’t control our destiny anymore, that’s the frustrating part,” Swinney said. “But the one thing we can control is how we respond. That is what we control. We’ve just got to find a way to go win the next one.”