A periodic look at what’s happening with teams on, or potentially on, the 2022 Clemson football schedule, with an emphasis on the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Wake Forest played their first game of the season and first without Sam Hartman at quarterback and while the results were good, the competition must be taken into account.
Wake blasted Southern Conference member VMI 44-10 in Winston-Salem as Mitch Griffis replaced Hartman and went 21 of 29 for 288 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Again, take the competition for what it’s worth, but Griffis did have a PFF pass grade of 88.2 and 2 big time throws.
The Demon Deacons travel to Vanderbilt and host Liberty before hosting Clemson on September 24.
Pittsburgh somehow won the backyard brawl with West Virginia as the Mountaineers snatched defeat from the jaws of victory on a pass that hit the receiver in the hands, bounced off and was returned for a game-winning touchdown.
The Panthers were outgained by West Virginia, but that second turnover was the game killer for Neal Brown’s crew.
The question here is, is the West Virginia offense or is the Panther defense overrated? I’m not sure how many envisioned Pitt giving up 404 yards and 31 points.
Kedon Slovis was graded (66.6) well below Griffis, for what that’s worth.
Future Clemson football opponents Louisiana Tech and Wake Forest played Thursday night, as did defending ACC Champion Pittsburgh
It’s early, but Pitt rushing for 76 yards on 39 carries, though Slovis was sacked 5 times and had to scramble twice more on 32 drop backs, show that perhaps the offensive line has some work to do.
If Louisiana Tech is indeed as bad as Missouri thinks, then maybe they need to look in the mirror as they trailed at the end of the first quarter before blowing the Bulldogs out 52-24.
The starters didn’t do much for the Bulldogs, but it should be noted that all three of their touchdowns were of the long pass variety, with the first being a 13 yard pass and 62 yards after the catch, the second was about 45 yards in the air with about 20 after the catch and the final being a 37 yard pass caught near the goal line.
The final two were caught by freshman receiver Cyrus Allen from Parker McNeil in relief. Allen finished with 5 receptions for 121 yards and the two scores, while McNeil finished 7 for 11 for 142 yards and 2 touchdowns.
As an aside former Clemson Tiger Joseph Charleston had one interception overturned by penalty, but then took a second 29 yards to the house in the second quarter.
Louisiana Tech hosts Stephen F. Austin next weekend, before travelling to Death Valley to face Clemson on September 17.