Clemson is reeling from Monday night’s improbable loss to Duke.
Despite gaining more total yards (422) than the Blue Devils (374), the Tigers imploded in a 28-7 shortcoming at Wallace Wade Stadium. Three turnovers and special teams blunders cost the reigning ACC champions, who entered the season opener as 12.5-point favorites.
After the game, Dabo Swinney noted the oddity of Monday’s loss. He said Clemson had never lost when gaining at least 200 passing and rushing yards apiece.
The Tigers were 58-0 during Swinney’s tenure when hitting those marks and 108-0 all-time.
Dabo Swinney says Clemson was 108-0 in program history when rushing for 200+ yards AND passing for 200+ yards in a single game…
108-1 after tonight 😬
— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) September 5, 2023
Clemson also noted that the program is 142-9 when gaining more yards than the opponent and 76-3 when rushing for at least 200 yards since Swinney took the job in 2008.
Multiple self-inflicted wounds yielded a strange Tigers loss. Clemson missed two field goals, including a block after failing to punch in a touchdown with first-and-goal at the one.
The Tigers then lost two fumbles inside the red zone, and Cade Klubnik threw an interception with five minutes remaining. After the game, Swinney called an “incredibly disappointing” outcome “the weirdest game I’ve ever been a part of.”
“It’s almost indescribable what I just saw,” Swinney said, per ESPN’s David Hale. “It’s incredibly frustrating when you had so much opportunity. … It’s routine stuff. The basics. The fundamentals. Basic, basic stuff.”
Clemson will look to rebound when hosting Charleston Southern this Saturday.