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Clemson Football: 5 Things that went wrong vs. UNC

By Shawn Spencer

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 28: Nolan Turner #24, James Skalski #47 and Xavier Thomas #3 of the Clemson Tigers stop Sam Howell #7 of the North Carolina Tar Heels short of the goal line on a two-point conversion in the final minute of the fourth quarter at Kenan Stadium on September 28, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Clemson won 21-20. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 28: Nolan Turner #24, James Skalski #47 and Xavier Thomas #3 of the Clemson Tigers stop Sam Howell #7 of the North Carolina Tar Heels short of the goal line on a two-point conversion in the final minute of the fourth quarter at Kenan Stadium on September 28, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Clemson won 21-20. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 28: Head coach Mack Brown of the North Carolina Tar Heels hugs head coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers before their game at Kenan Stadium on September 28, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 28: Head coach Mack Brown of the North Carolina Tar Heels hugs head coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers before their game at Kenan Stadium on September 28, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

The Clemson football team survived a game against the North Carolina Tar Heels. What went wrong in the Tigers’ 21-20 victory in Chapel Hill?

The Clemson football team somehow survived a thriller against the North Carolina Tar Heels Saturday afternoon in Kenan Stadium.

The Tigers escaped with an ugly 21-20 victory over the Tar Heels in a game in which they were outplayed and out-coached, according to Dabo Swinney.

Clemson fell behind early following a North Carolina 40-yard touchdown from Sam Howell to Dyami Brown on the fourth play from scrimmage. The Tigers’ offense had seemingly settled into the game after they drove 90 yards down the field and 10 plays and scored to tie the game, but just a possession later, Travis Etienne would fumble and give North Carolina great field position.

The Tar Heels took advantage and took a 14-7 lead. Just before the half, the Clemson football offense would answer with a touchdown drive of its own to tie the game at 14.

Neither time scored in the third quarter, and Trevor Lawrence found Tee Higgins on a 38-yard touchdown pass to take a 21-14 lead with just over nine minutes left in the fourth quarter.

It seemed as if Clemson football had finally locked up the win, but North Carolina still had some magic left. The Tar Heels went 16 plays for a touchdown and elected to go for two to try and win the game with a little over a minute left. They came up short on an option play-call and the Tigers held on.

So, what went wrong in this one for Clemson football? The answer is a lot. Here’s a look at five things.

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