Clemson’s wake-up call vs. North Carolina will be a blessing in disguise

Clemson survived the upset bid by North Carolina and this wake-up call should serve the reigning national champions well the rest of the way.

North Carolina was 0-10 all-time vs. No. 1 teams Oct. 13, 2017, was Clemson’s last loss in the regular season. Both streaks almost came to an end in Chapel Hill but Clemson made the stop on a two-point conversion try to escape with a 21-20 win.

Dabo Swinney said Clemson was very fortunate to win that game vs. North Carolina. It’s not always going to be easy and winning is hard. They made a lot of mistakes, had turnovers, made too many penalties, allowed too many conversions by North Carolina. But Clemson has an open date before taking on Florida State in Death Valley and they will be ready.

The wake-up call they received from North Carolina in a stadium where the Tar Heels fans were amped up for the biggest home game in years will have them ready for all atmospheres and challenges before them.

Sometimes these close calls have players and coaches rethinking their approach to practice and games. Clemson’s been the toast of the college football world as the reigning national champions. Being used to and entitled to winning can mean sometimes players sleepwalk through practices and underestimate certain opponents.

That’s looked like the case to an extent in the first month with Trevor Lawrence failing to resemble the freshman wunderkind for most of his sophomore season. It’s not so much a sophomore slump as it is Lawrence showing flaws and looking human for the first time. Sure, he missed a number of throws he should have made vs. North Carolina, continuing a trend of the first month. And sure, he’s thrown more interceptions this year than all of last year.

But he’ll be better.

Clemson will be better.

They were fortunate to get the win at North Carolina but great teams win those games. Lesser teams would have found a way to let that game slip away. Clemson should have lost. Mack Brown outcoached Dabo Swinney all game. UNC outplayed Clemson all game. The game came down to a two-point conversion at the end. Clemson was ready for it. North Carolina went wide against a fast and athletic defense and was stoned. Their upset bid came up short. North Carolina gets a moral victory. Clemson gets a much-needed wake-up call that they can’t sleepwalk through their ACC schedule.

Swinney and his coaches will use this game as a teaching moment. They saw how close they came to their perfect season coming to an end. One loss in the ACC may be enough to keep Clemson out of the College Football Playoff. If Ohio State and Texas go undefeated and the SEC gets two teams in, Clemson could be on the outside looking in. There’s that little margin for error.

The ACC is the weakest of the Power 5 conferences but you can’t overlook teams like North Carolina and playing in a tough road environment. Anything is possible when you’re getting everyone’s best effort each week as the top dog in the conference.

Clemson may go undefeated and rip through the rest of their schedule and win another national title and they’ll be thankful for that wake-up call in late September in Chapel Hill.

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