RALEIGH, N.C. – The wheels were already rattling, but they came off of the Clemson Tigers for three quarters against the NC State Wolfpack. It ended with a valiant comeback effort, but the mistakes ended up being too much for Clemson, who fell 24-17.

Nothing new happened for the Tigers, and that’s the problem. Mistakes, missed opportunities and too little, too late headline the 411 from Raleigh.

-It was a messy game for Clemson, but no play epitomizes the season more than quarterback Cade Klubnik seeing an open receiver in the third quarter, the pass being tipped and redirecting straight into the hands of NC State linebacker Payton Wilson. He waltzed into the end zone to make it a 17-7 game and it crushed the Tigers’ hopes.

-Absent again was the Clemson run game. 21 carries for 32 yards was the number until garbage time and the rotation of Tristan Leigh to right guard didn’t seem to solve any of the problems. If an offense can’t run the ball or pass block, it normally ends badly and it did Saturday for the Tigers.

-Kevin Concepcion accounted for 122 yards on two plays, including the nail in the coffin for Clemson. Late in the third quarter, the Tigers went with an all-out blitz, and MJ Morris found Concepcion, who shrugged off cornerback Toriano Pride Jr. and flew down the field for a 72-yard score. That made it a 24-7 game, a bar far too high for Clemson.

-This may have been Klubnik’s ugliest game as a Tiger. Two interceptions that led to touchdowns, missed opportunities for deep gains and he failed to use his legs when necessary. The numbers looked better by the end thanks to garbage time, but it was a very forgettable day for Klubnik.

-Albeit in unfortunate circumstances with running back Will Shipley suffering a scary injury, Phil Mafah was efficient at the goal line with two scores. You never want to see what happened, and Clemson needs Shipley back, but it was a pleasant sight for the Tigers to cap off red zone drives.

TURNING POINT

Wilson’s pick-six was the difference, but the story was told by the complacency at the end of the first half. Clemson had a chance to make the game look much better at half, but they didn’t and it ended in a long field goal missed.

There’s no urgency, and it showed up. When the mistakes returned in the third quarter, it made the gap too much to overcome. The clock management showed up again in the waning moments, as the Tigers made a comeback attempt far harder. Playing to win and playing to not lose are two very different things, and it ruined a potential comeback.

TELLING STAT: 364-203

That’s the yardage difference dominated by the losing team. Clemson was far more efficient play-to-play, but all the big ones came from NC State. On the other side, all the mistakes came from the Tigers.

It’s the same story every week for Clemson. Self-inflicted wounds continue to haunt this team and they’ve yet to show any sign of stopping it. That’s why they sit at 4-4 and the hopes of yet another 10-win season are over.