Clemson's Slide Deepens After Virginia Tech Upset
AI-generated image · US National Wire · Based on a photo by Quintin Soloviev (CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons)
A home loss to the Hokies has analyst Josh Pate predicting a five- or six-loss season for the Tigers.
Clemson suffered a 20-16 home loss to Virginia Tech on Saturday, marking the Hokies' first victory over the Tigers since 2007, as Sports Illustrated first reported. The game was decided in the final two minutes when Virginia Tech coach James Franklin opted against a tying field goal on fourth-and-1 at the Clemson 5, instead connecting on a touchdown pass from quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer to tight end Luke Reynolds, according to Sports Illustrated.
ESPN contributor and analyst Josh Pate told *Josh Pate’s College Football Show* that the muted national reaction to the loss suggests Clemson has fallen significantly from its status as an elite program. Pate noted that the Tigers have now seen six consecutive seasons with at least three losses, a stark contrast to the national championships won after the 2016 and 2018 seasons. With a current record of 4-3 following lopsided defeats to Miami and LSU, Pate predicts the Tigers will lose at least two more games, resulting in a five- or six-loss season.
Coach Dabo Swinney attributed the loss to his staff, calling the team's first-half performance "pitiful" and stating the failure was "100% coaching." Despite the decline, Sports Illustrated reports that Swinney's contract complicates any potential leadership change. He is currently under a 10-year, $115 million extension that runs through 2031, with a buyout for the current season valued at $57 million with no offset.