Dabo Swinney says Cade Klubnik didn’t run the play called on failed 4th down in Clemson’s 2OT loss to Miami

The fallout from Clemson’s disappointing 28-20 double-overtime loss at Miami has incorporated various grievance for the offensive aspect of the ball. The Tigers had been not able to get a hold of the performs wanted overdue to protect what have been a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter. 

One may level to a number of overlooked alternatives down the stretch, but it surely was once the Tigers’ ultimate offensive play that sticks out the maximum. Clemson confronted fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line on the 2d ownership of double time beyond regulation. Quarterback Cade Klubnik faked a handoff and attempted to beat the Miami protection round the edge. He was once met virtually in an instant by means of Miami linebacker Corey Flagg Jr. and pushed again 8 yards for the game-ending take on. 

The incontrovertible fact that Klubnik selected to take a look at to make a play himself fairly than permit operating again Will Shipley to take a look at to transfer the pile ahead for the 1 backyard wanted created various confusion amongst Clemson enthusiasts. As it seems, the play name was once no longer an RPO (run-pass choice), quarterback keeper, or zone learn. Klubnik was once intended to hand it off to Shipley however selected to pull it himself. 

“No, it was a handoff, 100% and we didn’t hand it off,” Swinney told 247Sports after the recreation. “[Klubnik] just pulled it. I’ve got no answer. I mean, just trying to do too much.”

Klubnik showed the play name to journalists after the recreation, noting that he was once “just trying to make a play” and took complete duty for the failed fourth down, noting that he would “hand it off 10 times out of 10” if he had the play again once more. 

This isn’t the first time Clemson has struggled with offensive execution in key moments of shut video games. The Tigers additionally had a blown lead and time beyond regulation screw ups in the loss to Florida State previous this season. Now at 4-3, Clemson faces a final time table that also contains Notre Dame, North Carolina and South Carolina with little margin for error to succeed in bowl eligibility. For a program that has gained seven of the closing 8 ACC Championships and was once picked to achieve this once more heading into the season, fighting to make a bowl recreation is large drop-off.