Clemson appeared to seal a victory with a fourth-down, goal-line stop on Georgia Tech’s attempt late Saturday night. Disaster ensued shortly thereafter.
Backed up on their own goal-line with just a few seconds remaining, Clemson quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei received the snap while in shotgun and standing in his own end-zone. He handed the ball off to running back Will Shipley. Shipley fought for extra yardage, allowing the Georgia Tech defense to try and make a play on the ball.
A Yellow Jackets defender put the crown of his helmet on the ball and knocked it free. The ball rolled back into the end-zone before Georgia Tech pounced on it for a safety to make it a 14-8 game with a few seconds remaining.
It was a heads up play by the Georgia Tech defense, which played its guts out on Saturday night.
🙏🙏🙏#4the404 /// #GTvsCLEM pic.twitter.com/QqVAepVLhh
— Georgia Tech Football (@GeorgiaTechFB) September 19, 2021
Unfortunately for Georgia Tech, it was a little too late.
The Yellow Jackets couldn’t add do anything special on the offensive end seeing that they had time for just two plays.
Clemson held on to win the ACC thriller.
30 consecutive wins in Death Valley. On to the next! #ALLIN pic.twitter.com/urOcLxyXau
— Clemson Football (@ClemsonFB) September 19, 2021
The Tigers may have gotten the win, but they walk away with more questions than answers.
What is going on with Clemson’s offense?
Clemson fans rn: pic.twitter.com/Gk4B1RhlhD
— Bleacher Report CFB (@BR_CFB) September 19, 2021
Wait a minute though… 👀👀👀👀👀👀👀
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) September 19, 2021
Listen, I’m not FREAKING OUT OR ANYTHING BUT GEORGIA TECH IS INSIDE CLEMSON’S 5 YARD LINE RIGHT NOW AND YOU SHOULD PROBABLY WATCH
— Brandon Marcello (@bmarcello) September 19, 2021
I guess it’s a probably a good thing that Clemson doesn’t have any other ranked opponents on it’s schedule.
— Peter Burns (@PeterBurnsESPN) September 19, 2021
Get Clemson out of the top 10…
— Curtis Couchman (@curtcouchman) September 19, 2021
That was close 😅 pic.twitter.com/ZRtVPkaIrp
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 19, 2021
Is Clemson a top-five team right now? Probably not. The Tigers are exceptional on the defensive end, but atrocious on offense.
The reality is they were lucky to escape with a win over Georgia Tech on Saturday, but a win’s a win. Clemson is 2-1 on the season.