Clemson Tigers' Loss to Miami Wasn't What it Appeared

The final score of the Clemson Tigers' loss to the Miami Hurricanes on Saturday indicates an LSU-style beatdown, as Clemson fell 41-13.

However, the score was honestly not indicative of the game.

Yes, Clemson lost. And yes, Miami was clearly the better team. That's why the Hurricanes are ranked No. 4 in the country.

But this wasn't just complete and utter domination.

Miami outgained Clemson 419 yards to 350. That's not that significant. The Hurricanes also finished with 25 first downs to the Tigers' 22, and Clemson was actually better on third down, going 8-for-18 compared to Miami's 4-for-11.

The difference? Discipline.

While the Hurricanes didn't have a single turnover, the Tigers gave the ball away twice. Additionally, Clemson was penalized 10 times for 91 yards.

Sure, you can blame Dabo Swinney, because typically, penalties are on the coach. But it's also a sign of a very young and inexperienced team, which is what the Tigers are.

Freshman quarterback Tait Reynolds went 29-for-44 with 295 yards and an interception. It was a learning experience for him, and it's not like he played terribly.

I thought Clemson would have a chance in this game because of its defense, but Miami simply proved to be too talented. That didn't come as much of a surprise to most.

Did I expect a closer final score? Yes, but perhaps I was being naive.

However, that doesn't mean we should entirely close the door on Clemson as a program just because it lost to LSU and Miami.

Everyone knows the Tigers have taken a step back the last few years. That isn't some hidden secret. So right now, it's just about progress for Swinney's squad.

And while there shouldn't be any moral victories after a 28-point loss, especially for a team that was once college football's finest, it wasn't like Clemson's Week 5 defeat was as astoundingly bad as its season-opening loss in Baton Rouge.

Miami is one of the best clubs in the country and might win a national championship. Clemson is clearly not on that level. In fact, the Tigers might not even be a top-five team within their own conference.

But you can see the potential here. Reynolds is going to be good. He is very raw, but the talent is there for the former three-star recruit to become an impressive quarterback.

It stinks that Clemson will lose both T.J. Moore and Bryant Wesco to the NFL Draft in the spring, but the Tigers also have a tantalizing crop of young wide receivers on the rise.

Clemson was blown out by Miami. Losing by four touchdowns is not a close or graceful defeat. Especially not for Clemson. But somewhere, there is a silver lining in there. You just have to look hard for it.