Eric Boggs 
Cade Klubneck had himself a great day against NC State.
Clemson continued its offensive resurgence with a commanding 59-35 victory over NC State to kick off ACC play on Saturday. Quarterback Cade Klubnik was electric, throwing for three touchdowns and adding a 55-yard scoring run as the No. 21 Tigers (2-1, 1-0 ACC) overwhelmed the Wolfpack early. The victory marks Clemson’s 800th win in program history, making them the first ACC school and the 14th FBS program to reach that milestone.
The Tigers wasted no time, taking control of the game in the first quarter. Klubnik’s 55-yard touchdown run, the longest by a Clemson QB since Trevor Lawrence’s 67-yard run against Ohio State in 2019, set the tone. Klubnik then connected with Antonio Williams on two scoring throws, and Phil Mafah added a 38-yard touchdown run to give Clemson a 28-0 lead with two minutes left in the first quarter.
By halftime, the Tigers were firmly in control, leading 45-7, thanks to additional rushing touchdowns from Cole Turner and Jay Haynes. Mafah rushed for 107 yards, his second straight game eclipsing the century mark, further establishing himself as a force in Clemson’s backfield.
NC State (2-2, 0-1 ACC), missing starting quarterback Grayson McCall, struggled to keep pace. Freshman CJ Bailey, making his first start, showed resilience, throwing for 204 yards and a touchdown. However, he also lost a fumble and threw a 53-yard pick-six to Clemson’s Ashton Hampton in the third quarter, putting the Tigers up 59-14.
The Wolfpack managed to score three touchdowns in the fourth quarter, but all came against Clemson’s reserves. Despite the late surge, NC State’s offense couldn’t overcome their slow start, and they have now lost 10 straight games at Clemson’s Death Valley.
Clemson’s offense seems to be finding its rhythm after a shaky 34-3 loss to No. 2 Georgia in the opener. With Klubnik at the helm, the Tigers have scored over 50 points in consecutive games, including a 66-20 blowout of Appalachian State two weeks ago. As they look to contend for another ACC title and a possible spot in the College Football Playoff, Clemson’s offense is firing on all cylinders.
Even with key players missing—defensive end Peter Woods and wide receiver Tyler Brown sidelined due to injuries—Clemson’s depth shined. The Tigers will finish their three-game homestand against Stanford next week, while NC State looks to rebound at home against No. 23 Northern Illinois.
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