Clemson football’s struggles continued in the first half against Virginia Tech, as they headed into the locker room down 7-0. Cade Klubnik appeared off rhythm, managing just 8 completions on 19 attempts for 81 yards and an interception. Despite outgaining Virginia Tech in total yards, Clemson couldn’t put points on the board, with dropped passes and penalties spoiling early scoring chances.

On defense, the Tigers introduced a 4-3 scheme, featuring freshman Sammy Brown in his first start at middle linebacker. This setup limited Virginia Tech’s ground game to just 29 yards, an improvement after last week’s struggles against Louisville. But Clemson’s special teams had a costly error, allowing a blocked field goal to be returned 77 yards for Virginia Tech’s sole touchdown.

Injuries on Clemson’s offensive line compounded the issues, with several younger players forced into action and three sacks on Klubnik already. Penalties and mistakes halted Clemson’s first drive, with calls like intentional grounding on Klubnik and a crucial hold on Antonio Williams leading to missed scoring opportunities.

Swinney needs to get through to his team before it’s too late.