Clemson Football Shocker: Tigers Upset No. 1 Rival to Revive Playoff Hopes

Clemson football roared back for a 28-20 victory over North Carolina, erasing a 14-point hole and surviving a 2.5-hour lightning delay before 78,332 at Memorial Stadium Saturday night. Freshman quarterback Tait Reynolds went 20-for-29 for 215 yards, tossing a third-quarter touchdown to tight end Christian Bentancur and directing two late scoring drives capped by rushing TDs from Gideon Davidson and Tyler Brown. The win boosts the Tigers to 2-1 overall and 1-0 in ACC play, a welcome turnaround after the season-opening rout at LSU and a shaky Georgia Southern win. Defense sealed it: five sacks and two turnovers, including Penn State transfer Elliot Washington II’s interception with 37 seconds left. For the third straight week lightning halted a Clemson game, yet Dabo Swinney’s squad emerged energized, outscoring UNC 13-0 after the delay. Next up is a cross-country test: Clemson (2-1) visits Cal (2-1) Friday, Sept. 25, 10:30 p.m. ET on ESPN, entering as a narrow 1.5-point favorite. With Reynolds emerging and momentum restored, Clemson football eyes a West Coast win to keep ACC title hopes humming in 2026.