Rapid Reaction: Clemson rights the ship, handles Syracuse on the road.

Clemson (3-2, 1-2 ACC) knocks off Syracuse (4-1, 0-1 ACC) for their first conference win of the season.
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The mistakes and missteps were still there, but Clemson road big plays and stellar defense to their first conference win over the year, taking down Syracuse 31-14.

It wasn't Cade Klubnik's best performance (23-37, 263 yards, 2 TDs) but there were more flashes of what he can do. The sophomore was much more in control of the pocket, extending plays and finding receivers downfield in a way we haven't seen this season. Instead of trying to quick the ball out quickly, Klubnik used his legs to allow his receivers to find space. The Tigers may have found something that makes their quarterback more comfortable.

Tyler Brown
Tyler Brown (Clemson Athletics) / Clemson Athletics

A big part of Klubnik's performance was the play of freshman receiver Tyler Brown who logged his first 100-yard performance (8 catches, 151 yards). He's become Klubnik's go-to guy and is Clemson's best receiver at creating space. From this point forward, he's Clemson's WR1.

Speaking of freshmen, T.J. Parker is that guy. The freshman defensive end was in on three sacks. Officially, he had two sacks (one solo and two assists) but that was Syracuse's official stats from the game. Don't be surprised if Clemson has him listed at 2.5).

It seems redundant to say, but Clemson's defense is elite. The Tigers were without Nate Wiggins and still held Syracuse under 300 total yards. No matter the team's record, this defense is among the best to come through the school.


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Christian Goeckel
CHRISTIAN GOECKEL

Christian Goeckel is a Staff Writer for All Clemson on SI.com. Christian has covered College Football for nearly a decade, writing for multiple sites and hosting radio shows across Southern Georgia and South Carolina.