Sometimes, you have to keep the receipts. In the lead-up to Clemson's Week 3 home game versus North Carolina, many Tar Heels players decided to get into it with some Tigers during their pregame warmups. First, some UNC guys came over to The Paw midfield about two hours before kickoff to share some words. Then, they would make their way to the Clemson sidelines about 30 minutes later.
Clemson was gathering midfield with its whole roster, but UNC and several Tigers got involved in some pregame words.@ClemsonTigerNet pic.twitter.com/IhniJV7eBE
— Grayson Mann (@gray_mann21) September 19, 2026
Another heated pregame exchange between Clemson and North Carolina.
— Grayson Mann (@gray_mann21) September 19, 2026
Tempers flaring before kickoff.@ClemsonTigerNet pic.twitter.com/wBBtIqenRD
With this game expected to go down to the wire coming in, it would have been a real shame if North Carolina did not hold up its end of the bargain. For a while, they did, but UNC quickly unraveled in the second half before totally falling apart at the seams after the two-hour rain delay. It was a miserable day for Billy Edwards Jr., and Clemson cornerback Elliot Washington II made him pay for it in the end.
"It most definitely gave me some motivation for sure, I can't lie," Washington said of the pre-game scuffles Clemson had with North Carolina ahead of the Week 3 ACC opener. "It's funny to see guys mouthing [off]. You're on our turf. You guys came into our house. Now, we have to show you guys what it's really about." Washington made North Carolina pay for being so cocky with his timely interception.
Clemson CB Elliot Washington II says the pregame trash talk at midfield gave him extra motivation vs. UNC today. Washington: “I can’t lie, it did. It’s funny to see guys mouthing. … It’s like, you came into our turf, our house. Now we have to show you what it’s really about” pic.twitter.com/rusHUDuznP
— Chapel Fowler (@chapelfowler) September 19, 2026
Clemson's secondary is playing with the right kind of swagger of late
Even though he has only played three games for Clemson since transferring over from Penn State, Washington has a certain swagger that has completely transformed this unit for the Tigers. Only a season ago, Clemson's defensive backfield constantly leaked like a sieve. With three transfer portal additions in Washington, Jerome Carter III, and Corey Myrick, this secondary is now a major strength.
As this game unfolded, it became abundantly clear that Clemson was the far better team at adjusting. With Bill Belichick being the greatest in-game adjuster of all time, we have to give Dabo Swinney and his staff credit for this great showing. Chad Morris' play-calling improved dramatically in the second half, while Tom Allen's defense came to play from opening kickoff. Washington was a huge part of it.
In time, North Carolina may only be revealed as a bottom-feeding program in the ACC once more. However, Clemson is playing with more confidence defensively with each passing week. The good news for them is the Tigers have plenty of runway to get better by playing in a lackluster ACC. The bad news is this may only be a one-team league again when it comes to the College Football Playoff.
Right now, we should look at Washington's comments in two ways. The first would have to be that karma eventually got the best of UNC in this one. When have you seen a Belichick-led team ever get this chippy during the pre-game? That was surely going to come back to haunt them, and it did. The second is Washington and the rest of Clemson's secondary is playing with so much confidence now.
If Clemson wants to keep making noise in the ACC, Washington's position group must hold its own.
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