CLEMSON – Throughout the entire contest between Clemson and SMU, the Tigers’ defense looked off.

Despite a few drives ending in punts and a single sack earlier in the game, the Tigers weren’t able to stop SMU’s offense. The vulnerability through the air, the missed tackles, and the inability to set the edge were all a part of the 35-24 loss to the Mustangs.

After trading punts early in the game, Clemson’s offense was completely without identity, with backup quarterback Christopher Vizzina getting acquainted with the game. The need for the defense to step up was paramount, but they could only hold on for so long, as SMU found its first score on a wide-open deep pass from quarterback Kevin Jennings to receiver Jordan Hudson for 70 yards.

Unfortunately for the Tigers, it only went downhill from there. On their following drive, Clemson came up empty again, and SMU drove into Tiger territory. The Mustangs took the ball beyond the 40 before being forced to kick a field goal. While considered a decent success, the Tigers’ deficit was now in double digits. Every time the Clemson offense scored, the SMU offense scored right back.

Much of the struggles in the entire game can’t be pinned on a single player or coach, but no part of the defense seemed as on point as it had been in previous weeks against UNC and Boston College. The defensive line failed to pressure Jennings into making bad throws, the linebackers left gaps in the field and missed tackles, and the entire unit seemed to have no spark.

SMU (5-2, 3-0 ACC) finished off the half with two more field goals by kicker Sam Keltner, going into the half with a nine-point lead. The Clemson defense felt like the only hope of staying in the game, but after numerous punts and empty drives, the players were unable to keep up.

The Tigers (3-4, 2-3 ACC) scored a touchdown themselves with a big reception from T.J. Moore, but SMU answered right back.

Somehow, the defense softened up after the halftime break, going from allowing 2.6 yards per carry to 7.3 per carry in the second half. The Mustangs punished more gaps, fought harder, and extended plays, and the Clemson defense felt like they were waiting for each other to make the play.

Entering the fourth quarter, SMU drove down the field and Jennings found an open Matthew Hibner for a 22-yard touchdown, increasing their lead to 12 points. With two quick touchdowns from the Mustangs, Clemson found itself on their heels yet again. Their first big play came when a tipped ball was intercepted by Ricardo Jones at midfield, giving the Tigers a chance to get back within range to take the lead.

SMU’s defense jumped offsides on a fourth-and-long, allowing Vizzina to throw a deep pass to the end zone to receiver Tristan Smith for a 23-yard touchdown to bring the lead closer. All the Tigers needed was for their defense to hold up their end of the bargain and stop the Mustangs from answering right back.

The tale of the game continued, and the Mustangs were able to convert a fourth down at midfield due to a pass interference call on defensive back Ronan Hanafin, giving the Mustangs a first down in Tiger territory with time winding towards the two-minute warning. Another completion put the Mustangs in the red zone, and they ran the clock down while adding another score to put the cherry on top.

SMU felt little resistance until late, allowing their offense to answer anything that Clemson could manage on their own drives. What resulted was an exposure of the defense that gave the appearance that whatever preparation was done before the game wasn’t enough.