CLEMSON — There was a time when Clemson embodied what Miami is now.

Between 2015 and 2024, the Tigers won eight ACC championships, including six in a row from 2015-2020. Dabo Swinney leading his roster to double-digit wins and the postseason was basically a forgone conclusion. It used to be Clemson that went in to ACC road games as the favorite and handled business with relative ease.

Clemon’s record against ranked opponents in recent years shows how times have changed.

It’s been a gradual decline since the loss to Ohio State in the 2020 College Football Playoff semifinal. In the six seasons since, Clemson is 9-10 against ranked opponents and 2-6 since 2024.

Clemson’s 51-10 loss to No. 11 LSU was an indicator on its own, but after winning three straight games in the weeks following, Swinney and Clemson looked to write it off as a bump in a long road to eventual success.

The Tigers’ 41-13 loss to No. 4 Miami — a program they once dominated in the previous decade — on Oct. 3 was a symbolic passing of the baton from Clemson to the ‘Canes, as the Tigers search for their place somewhere between the middle of the ACC and the top of college football.

“We’re a work in progress,” Swinney said. “But the season ain’t over. We got a long way to go.”

Clemson has seven more games in 2026 to make the climb from its current standing.

Clemson quarterback Tait Reynolds discusses the 41-13 loss to Miami, how the Tigers can move forward.

Jackson Castellano/Staff

Missed opportunities

Clemson’s 350 total yards of offense and 22 first downs in the loss would typically indicate a team that scored more than 13 points. But the Tigers consistently found themselves not finishing drives after solid starts on Saturday. Thirty-seven percent of Clemson’s offensive plays were run in Miami’s half of the field, but the team only produced three scoring drives in 12 opportunities.

The shortcomings were in part due to a 9 for 21 conversion rate on third and fourth downs and four offensive penalties, two of them pre-snap and within 10 yards of the goal line.

“Those are game-changing opportunities that you have to cash in on to give yourself a chance to win games like that, and we did not,” Swinney said.

Getting tricky

Maybe Clemson’s biggest missed opportunity of the game came right after halftime.

Down 17-6, the Tigers had forced three straight scoreless drives from Miami and were driving down the field to the opposing 18-yard line.

Clemson faced third down with two yards to gain. It ran a fake jet sweep run with quarterback-turned-wide receiver Chris Denson for no gain. On fourth down, Swinney said Clemson decided to go for it because the offense needed a touchdown.

Offensive coordinator Chad Morris drew up a trick play where freshman QB Tait Reynolds faked confusion and a discussion off toward the sideline while running back Gideon Davidson ran on a direct snap. He gained one yard, and Clemson turned the ball over.

The sequence was the latest in a handful of failed trickery for Clemson this season. The Tigers threw an interception on a flea-flicker against Cal and failed to convert a two-point attempt vs. North Carolina on a double pass.

“You can second guess all of it. If we make it, it’s a great decision,” Swinney said. “If you don’t, it’s bad.”

Defense holds up with little help

Despite the final score, Clemson’s defense did well to hold off Miami’s offense, which is one of the most prolific units in the country.

The Hurricanes’ 419 yards was below its average of 588.8. Miami’s 17 first-half points was the lowest mark all season. Two late touchdowns — a punch-in run from RB Mark Fletcher after a grueling drive and a pick-six thrown by Reynolds — made it a worse margin than the Tigers defense was actually responsible for. Miami’s star receiver Malachi Toney was held to five catches for 40 yards.

“We embraced it. … I love these big-time games and big-time matchups,” Clemson defensive back Ashton Hampton said. “I feel like I did OK. I definitely could be a lot better.”

The defense’s two worst plays were consequential, giving up a 61-yard touchdown on a screen pass in Miami’s opening drive and later allowing QB Darian Mensah to scramble (and fumble) his way to a 34-yard score.

Swinney said it came down to Clemson’s offense not being able to convert on opportunities the defense opened up.

“We played some really good, compounding football,” Swinney said. “We had a couple really big layup-type opportunities, and we didn’t make them.”

Reynolds’ best game not enough

Reynolds had probably the best game of his young college career, but it still wasn’t perfect. It also wasn’t enough to win the game.

The freshman finished 29 of 44 passing with 295 yards and no touchdowns. He fumbled and threw a pick-six in the game and was sacked six times. Swinney said the sacks were partly on Clemson’s offensive line and partly on Reynolds holding the ball for too long. Reynolds took full responsibility for the sacks and said turnovers are probably his biggest area for improvement at the moment.

Reynolds made some impressive throws and plays with his legs in the game, and from the eye test, it seems the game is slowing down for him under pressure. But his play alone wasn’t able to lift Clemson’s offense past those missed layups.

“We’re a lot better football team than that. We know we are,” he said. “Once we clean it up, you guys will see.”

The road ahead

Despite the loss and questions about the state of Clemson as a program in the aftermath, Swinney said he “absolutely” believes Clemson is still constructed to compete for ACC championships.

“We’ve lost to two really good teams, but we’re still progressing,” he said. “We’re 3-2, we’re 2-1 in the ACC. We’re right here. We’re right there. We just gotta go dig in.”

Clemson is 0-2 against ranked opponents in 2026. The Tigers’ final seven games include an FCS foe in Charleston Southern and one ACC team with an above .500 conference record currently — Duke is 1-0 in the conference and had a bye on Saturday. There may not be another ranked team on Clemson’s regular season schedule.

The Tigers could finish with two or more losses and still play in the ACC championship game. Duke and Virginia proved that last season.

But Clemson’s path to its ultimate goal — competing with the nation’s best — is a journey the Tigers currently embark on from below the sport’s top programs, when they once were beside or above them.

“It is what it is. That’s what people are gonna look at, is the score,” Swinney said. “Can’t really worry about that. Gotta go win the next game.”

Clemson has a bye week before kicking off against Charleston Southern at home on Oct. 17.