CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Dabo Swinney isn’t concerned if his team is playing its best right now because he knows they will play their best when they need to the most. Case in point, last week’s fourth quarter performance against rival South Carolina.
After the Gamecocks rallied to cut what was once an 18-point lead to three points, Swinney saw his team respond in a way that has him very confident they will be playing their best football on Saturday night.
Top-ranked Clemson will play No. 8 North Carolina on Saturday (8 p.m.) at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C.
“We have been at our best we when we needed to be,” Swinney said. “Whatever situation it has been all year long, that is really all it is all about. It is just finding a way to win.”
The Tigers (12-0) found a way to win against Notre Dame in a driving rain storm back in Oct. They found a way to outscore NC State in a hostile environment in Raleigh and then they found a way to beat Florida State even though running back Dalvin Cook ripped off a 75-yard touchdown run on the second-play of scrimmage.
When Clemson has needed to make that one play or get that one stop when it needed it the most, it has found a way to step up and get the job done.
“No matter what the situation that has been presented to this team, they have found a way to win,” Swinney said.
That’s what happened in Columbia last Saturday. After South Carolina pulled within 28-25 on a Shon Carson one-yard run with 12:22 to play, the Tigers quickly responded.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson engineered a 10-play, 60-yard drive, which included three third-down conversions. He capped the drive himself with a three-yard touchdown in which he dove for the end zone.
“It goes from 28-10 to 28-25 in like two minutes,” Swinney said. “All the momentum, on the road, all that stuff and all I saw was a complete football team rise up.”
Swinney said it just wasn’t the offense, but he also saw a different look in his defensive players’ eyes, and his special teams even responded.
“The offense goes right down the field and converts three third down conversions and scores,” Swinney said. “Kickoff coverage makes a great kickoff and great coverage. The defense gets a three-and-out. The offense goes and moves the ball down the field … takes time off the clock, skies the ball and pins them deep. Then the defense goes out and gets a stop on downs.
“The offense goes back out, moves the ball and gets a field goal.”
Swinney understands his team has had it issues the last three weeks. The Tigers have turned the ball over 10 times in wins over Syracuse, Wake Forest and South Carolina. The defense allowed 242 rushing yards at Syracuse and gave up 402 yards overall to the Gamecocks.
“Every game, every week, when you get down to this part of the season, you better be playing your best football,” Swinney said. “We have had eight straight games with 500 plus yards. We have had some turnovers, but we have still been able to win.
“To me, I look at that as a positive. We do not have to play perfect to win. But last week, I thought we played our best football in the fourth quarter in crunch time on the road with your rival. You are up 28-10 going into the fourth quarter there, and the next thing you know, bam a couple of slants, then the fade and it is 28-17. Your offense goes out and makes a nice play and then fumbles the ball. They get it and then get a busted play for a quick touchdown.
“I think we are going to have to play our best football tomorrow because that is what I think it is going to come down to. The same thing for North Carolina, both teams will put their best foot forward.”