After four quarters of ugly football against Louisville, Clemson fans were subjected to two more vs. Virginia Tech. The Tiger offense was plodding and inexplosive. The offensive line looked like the shell of the group that bullied teams in September and October. They were without LG Marcus Tate and further hampered by a first-quarter ankle injury to LT Tristan Leigh. As a result, Klubnik was hurried and discombobulated.
Worse yet, the special teams gaffes that first appeared against Florida State and cost them dearly against Louisville went uncorrected. Clemson allowed yet another blocked field goal, this time returned for a touchdown—the only score of the first half.