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Clemson rallies to defeat North Carolina in ACC opener

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2026-09-21 02:27 UTC → 2026-09-21 14:49 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The Clemson Tigers secured a 28-20 comeback victory against the North Carolina Tar Heels in their ACC opener at Memorial Stadium, overcoming an initial 17-3 deficit. The game was marked by a nearly 2.5-hour weather delay caused by lightning, after which North Carolina’s offense stalled. Clemson’s rally was driven by freshman quarterback Tait Reynolds, making his first career start. While he struggled in the first half, he improved significantly in the second, completing 20 of 29 passes for 210 yards, including a 27-yard touchdown to Christian Bentancur and a 41-yard connection to Bryant Wesco. Head coach Dabo Swinney praised Reynolds for his competitiveness despite a difficult start. The late-game momentum was further aided by the performance of running back Gideon Davidson. North Carolina, led by head coach Bill Belichick, dominated the first half behind running back Benjamin Hall, who recorded 130 yards on 18 carries. However, the Tar Heels suffered a late-game collapse, failing to contain Clemson’s surge in the final eight minutes. North Carolina’s struggles included a failed second-and-goal attempt and a game-sealing interception by quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. Despite the loss, Hall and Greg Smith received high individual performance grades. Following the defeat, Belichick noted that his team “missed opportunities on offense and failed to make tackles on defense.” The loss follows recent internal investigations into program conduct involving drug use and inappropriate relationships, which led to the resignations of general manager Michael Lombardi and defensive coordinator Steve Belichick. ~~The game also intensified criticism of Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney regarding tactical decisions and program direction.~~

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