For four hours there was so much bad and ugly everywhere.

From Clemson.

From Pittsburgh.

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And yes, from the crew on duty.

You could say the only good thing that existed was what the Tigers took from Acrisure Stadium.

A victory.

Somehow, somehow, a 24-20 win.

It’s November 16th and it’s safe to say Dabo Swinneys The 16th team is quite maddening.

The Tigers certainly were for most of Saturday’s second half, especially as their offense showed quite convincingly that it isn’t much better than last year’s offense, or the one that got Brandon Straater fired in 2022, or the one that was really terrible three years ago.

But there’s something different about this offense and this Clemson team, and it’s a quarterback who can take a game by the throat just when most of the fan base is ready to take the coaches by the throat.

There was a lot going on in this game, so much that we could write 2000 words about it, but that probably wouldn’t be enough.

More injuries after the team came in limped, including to Elyjah Thurmon And RJ Mickens.

A targeted ejection of Sammy Brown that someone brought in (Dee Crayton) who otherwise would not have seen the field.

Some horrendous mistakes from the officials and the replay booth, including a personal foul that should have been called on Crayton but wasn’t… and it happened a few minutes later.

We can continue.

But we can stop there and start giving Cade Klubnik it’s his fault for this team that is 8-2 overall and closes the conference at 7-1, and the hope of advancing to the ACC title game is somehow still alive.

You can say this team made a strong case last Saturday that it has no business in the 12-team College Football Playoff.

And you won’t really get a rebuttal here.

This team has a lot of injuries and a lot of warts.

A lot of things that make you wonder if Swinney will ever manage to bring the program back to a taste of rare, elite air.

But on a dreary day in Pittsburgh, this team also had a quarterback who could get it done.

And he knew he could make it happen. That was probably the most important part, as Klubnik walked onto the field with 1:36 left Ben Sauls put Pitt up 20-17 with a 47-yard field goal.

To most reasonable people it felt like the game was over as the offense had stunk up to that point in the second half.

Twelve yards in the third quarter and a complete inability to land the kill shot after leaving halftime up 17-7.

A three-and-out early in the fourth, followed by a turnover on downs at midfield Phil Mafah fumbled out of bounds a few yards short of the first-down marker, but it felt a million miles away because this foul didn’t fool anyone.

Yes, Klubnik should do this themselves.

And it’s been a while since Clemson had a quarterback who could do that.

He climbed into the pocket and threw to his left Antonio Williams for 18 yards on the first play.

Then he immediately threw at Jake Briningstool for 7 meters.

At that point, Clemson had only 8 yards rushing that day.

Pitt, of course, was focused on defending the pass. So it was a perfect time for a quarterback draft.

Klubnik found separation from the Panthers up the middle and cut to the right.

He was on his way to a big win.

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He wanted more.

He turned on the jets and easily outpaced the safety down the Clemson sideline for a 50-yard touchdown run.

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Yes, the defense ultimately had to hold out for life.

Even a Pitt offense that couldn’t get out of the way for most of the day still moved down the field, all the way to the 26 with 10 seconds left.

Ten seconds is enough time to rip out the hearts of the boys in the orange helmets.

But it didn’t happen.

Two incomplete passes, and then an interception through Khalil Barnes two meters from the end zone.

So much bad.

So much ugly.

But so much good from the quarterback when they needed it.

They’re still alive because they have a quarterback who gave them life.

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