The Tigers run past UNC

The coaching matchup between Clemson's Dabo Swinney and North Carolina's Bill Belichick turned into a one-sided affair, with the Tigers dominating the Tar Heels in a 38-10 victory on Saturday. Clemson (2-3, 1-2 ACC) came out strong after an open date, scoring 28 points in the first quarter while averaging 15.8 yards per play. Quarterback Cade Klubnik was exceptional, completing 22 of 24 passes for 254 yards and throwing four touchdown passes—two each to Adam Randall and Christian Bentancur—before being replaced in the third quarter by reserve Christopher Vizzina.  “Cade was awesome,” Coach Swinney said.

North Carolina (2-3, 0-1 ACC), led by Max Johnson in place of the injured Gio Lopez, struggled to keep pace. Benjamin Hall's fourth-quarter touchdown came long after the outcome was decided, with most home fans leaving Kenan Stadium by halftime as the Tigers built a 35-3 lead. The game, which initially held intrigue as a rare matchup of coaches with multiple national and Super Bowl titles, ultimately highlighted Clemson's ability to change course after a challenging September, while UNC's struggles continued.