Clemson thrashing NC State serves as reminder: No. 21 Tigers are still top contender in ACC, playoff race

The Tigers have leaned on youth to find their way offensively, bounce back from brutal loss to Georgia in Week 1

No. 21 Clemson was left for dead after getting crushed by No. 2 Georgia in Week 1. The Tigers looked like a shell of the championship-caliber teams of old, and quarterback Cade Klubnik failed to show any growth in his second season as the starter. 

Just three weeks later, however, that performance feels like a mulligan. Clemson eviscerated NC State 59-35 in a game that wasn't as close as the final score. The Tigers were up 45-7 at halftime and Klubnik sat essentially the entire second half. The victory follows Clemson dropping 66 points on Appalachian State in Week 3. 

Granted, the Wolfpack have been one of the greatest disappointments in college football this season after starting the season ranked in the AP Top 25. At the same time, Clemson's dominance proves the Tigers are very much still the top contender to Miami for the ACC title. 

Historically under Dabo Swinney, Clemson has found a strong balance of youth and experience to ensure that every roster had bright young talents mixed with veteran leaders. A few whiffs in high school recruiting over the past few seasons led to some major issues on that front. Especially at receiver, Clemson struggled to find some of the NFL-caliber talents that characterized the program in the past. When a program refuses to use the transfer portal, these issues hit twice as hard. 

But since Week 1, those players have finally started to emerge. Sophomore Antonio Williams followed up his touchdown against Appalachian State with a two-touchdown performance against the Wolfpack's highly rated secondary. A week prior, it was freshman Bryant Wesco Jr. who popped for 130 yards and a score against Appalachian State. 

Across the board, Clemson's youth has started to pop. Top receivers Williams, Wesco and Tyler Brown are all sophomores or younger. Cornerback Avieon Terrell and defensive end Peter Woods are both sophomores. They combine with the junior Klubnik, senior running back Phil Mafah and senior linebacker Barrett Carter to make up units with dangerous potential. Several of the young players were not given major snaps against Georgia -- perhaps even to protect them. 

In the first half against NC State, Clemson outgained the Wolfpack 408-164. The Tigers rushed for 228 yards on the ground on 13.4 yards per carry and posted 10.5 yards per play. Clemson had 14 explosive plays from scrimmage, including a 31-yard touchdown throw to Williams to break the game open in the first quarter. For comparison, Clemson had three such plays against Georgia and only one passing play of more than 20 yards. NC State certainly isn't Georgia, but the Wolfpack still rank top 25 in defensive FEI. 

Now, Clemson's resurgence sets the Tigers on an intriguing path. No. 19 Louisville is the only ranked team on the schedule, and the Cardinals come to town on Nov. 2. Florida State and Virginia appeared to be far tougher road games heading into the season, but both have flopped under those lofty expectations. Clemson is likely to be favored in every game the rest of the season and have a favorable atmosphere in a potential ACC title game against Miami. 

In so many ways, this is the beauty of the expanded College Football Playoff. The Tigers had a truly bad 60 minutes, but the season isn't over. Clemson is allowed to grow. 

By the way, Georgia sometimes just does this to teams. Two years ago, Oregon was similarly left for dead after losing 49-3 in the first game of the Dan Lanning era. That Ducks team went on to rattle off 10 wins and lost squeakers to Oregon State and Washington by a combined seven points. Had one of those games flipped, Oregon would have been playing for a Pac-12 title. 

With nine games remaining, the Tigers have an opportunity to do something similar and contend for the ACC. In the era of the 12-team College Football Playoff, Clemson's resurgence gives the ACC two serious contenders to make the field.