CLEMSON — A rainy afternoon has led to some dreary football for eighth-ranked Clemson. The Tigers trail unranked Troy 16-3 at the half.

The Tigers’ offense looked as listless as it’s been in quite some time throughout the first half, with G5 Troy coming in and shutting the Tigers out of the end zone over the first half of play. The Trojans scored a touchdown on the opening possession of the game, then added a FG early in the second quarter and scored a touchdown when Cade Klubnik’s pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage inside the Tigers’ own five and returned for a touchdown.

– The last time a Clemson team started 0-2? 1974.

– Clemson came into this one as a 33.5-point favorite.

– Troy possessed the ball for more than 17 minutes in the first half.

– There seem to be some deep-rooted issues with this offense, and right now the unit appears to just be going through the motions. There is no fire, or no urgency, despite having been worked over by a Sunbelt team for two quarters.

– Even when it looked like Clemson had finally broken through for a touchdown late in the second quarter, the play was called back after it was reviewed because Tristan Smith’s knee touched the ground after the catch and well beyond the line of scrimmage.

– Klubnik’s inconsistency continues. The accuracy just hasn’t been there, at times, in the first half, and when it was, some of his throws have been a hair too late. He’s passed for just 97 yards and is only averaging 5.43 yards per attempt.

– Clemson has just five first downs in the first half. Just five. Against Troy. Let that sink in. The Tigers came in 12-0 all-time against Sunbelt teams and have not lost to a G5 program since Marshall beat them at home in 1999.

– Troy already has as many passing yards (144) as it did against FCS Nicholls last weekend. A game in which the Trojans trailed 17-10 entering the fourth quarter.

– The offensive line has once again not played well. Starters Tristan Leigh and Walker Parks are both out, but this Clemson team is supposed to have enough depth up front to overcome those two losses when matched up against the Troys of the world. It’s not been pretty.

– The interior of the defensive line has been pretty disruptive for the most part, particularly Peter Woods.

Photo by Bart Boatwright