Clemson vs. North Carolina score: Cade Klubnik leads Tigers to seventh ACC championship in eight years

Klubnik accounted for more than 300 yards of total offense and two touchdowns for the Tigers

No. 9 Clemson isn't going to compete for a national title this season, but it returned to conference supremacy and clinched a spot in the Orange Bowl with a 39-10 shellacking of No. 23 North Carolina in the ACC Championship Game. The win marks the Tigers' seventh ACC crown of the past eight seasons and brings a bit of redemption for Dabo Swinney's program after it failed to make the league title game last season for the first time since 2014.

North Carolina jumped out to an early 7-0 lead but faded fast once Clemson turned to freshman quarterback Cade Klubnik on its third possession. With junior starter DJ Uiagalelei proving ineffective, Klubnik entered and quickly flipped the momentum in the Tigers' favor by directing a 71-yard touchdown drive. The former five-star prospect and heir-apparent to Uiagalelei completed 20 of 24 passes for 279 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions, while also running for 30 yards and a score. Klubnik remained on the field until third-string quarterback Hunter Johnson entered with the game out of hand in the fourth quarter.

Klubnik's counterpart, North Carolina's Drake Maye, guided the Tar Heels into the red zone five times, but those trips produced just 10 points. A fumble and a blocked field goal attempt hampered the Tar Heels in the first half, and a costly interception gutted their chances during the the third quarter.

With the Tar Heels trailing just 24-10, Maye threw an ill-advised third-down pass that Clemson's Nate Wiggins intercepted and returned 98 yards for a touchdown with 5:05 left in the third quarter. The play zapped UNC's hopes of a rally and ushered in the Tar Heels' third consecutive loss. At 9-4, North Carolina can still reach double-digit victories for just the second time since 1997 if it wins a bowl game. 

Clemson has already reached double-digit wins for a 12th straight season under Swinney and can finish 12-2 if it wins the Orange Bowl. Tennessee is its projected opponent for the game, which is set for Dec. 30 in Miami. With such an emphatic win in the ACC Championship Game, Clemson would have been in great shape to make the College Football Playoff if only it hadn't lost to South Carolina last week. Without the loss to the Gamecocks, which marked Clemson's first home loss since 2016, the Tigers would have benefitted tremendously from this weekend's losses by No. 3 TCU and No. 4 USC. 

But a league title and New Year's Six bowl appearance are nothing to scoff at, especially after the program lost long-time coordinators Tony Elliot (Virginia) and Brent Venables (Oklahoma) to head coaching gigs after the 2021 season.

[Dec 3, 2022 at 11:38 pm ET · David Cobb]

Impressive performance

Final: Clemson 39, North Carolina 10

After falling behind 7-0 early, Clemson dominated the rest of the ACC Championship Game. Cade Klubnik entered for DJ Uiagalelei on the Tigers' third series and didn't exit until the game was out of reach in the fourth quarter. He was sensational, and the Clemson defense was nasty in the red zone. The Tigers aren't going to make the CFP, but they can finish 12-2 with a win in the Orange Bowl, and if Klubnik plays like this in that game, then the Tigers will be an offseason darling. The former five-star prospect made it abundantly clear tonight that he is the program's future at the position.

What a dot @CadeKlubnikQB 🤯 pic.twitter.com/vMbdQ5tQ7h

— Clemson Football (@ClemsonFB) December 4, 2022

[Dec 3, 2022 at 9:56 pm ET · David Cobb]

At the horn

Dabo Swinney tells ESPN that Cade Klubnik is the Tigers' QB for the rest of the game. Hard to argue with that after he goes 10 of 11 for 149 yards after entering on the third series. Tigers get a 52-yard field goal from B.T. Potter on the final play of the half after Klubnik helped get them in FG range. Huge stand by the Clemson defense on UNC's final possession of the half to force a field goal. Tar Heels are moving the ball well, but Clemson's defense has been excellent in the red zone.

[Dec 3, 2022 at 9:28 pm ET · David Cobb]

21 unanswered 

Clemson strikes fast as Cade Klubnik finds Cole Turner for a 68-yard gain and then keeps on a bootleg for 1-yard TD run. This thing has gone sour in a hurry for North Carolina. That's 21 unanswered after the Tar Heels looked great in the early going.

[Dec 3, 2022 at 9:23 pm ET · David Cobb]

What a stand

Maye was called for a 15-yard facemark penalty while trying to avoid a defender, setting up the Heels in a third-and-17 from their own 27-yard line. But even after a Clemson timeout, UNC converted with a strike to Antoine Green. Rough play for the Clemson defense, but the Tigers buckle down from there and force a field goal attempt. It's blocked. After a 17(!) play drive, the Tar Heels come up empty.

[Dec 3, 2022 at 8:59 pm ET · David Cobb]

Momentum shift

End 1Q: Clemson 14, UNC 7

North Carolina forced Clemson into consecutive three-and-outs to begin the game and surged ahead on a 78-yard touchdown drive. Great start on both sides of the ball. But after Cade Klubnik entered at QB for the Tigers, things changed. He guides the Tigers on an impressive scoring drive, and then Clemson capitalizes on a UNC fumble with a Phil Mafah TD run. Heels have the ball down 7 as the second quarter begins.

[Dec 3, 2022 at 8:52 pm ET · David Cobb]

Evening it up

Clemson goes to Cade Klubnik after beginning the game with two three-and-outs with DJ Uiagalelei at QB. The Tigers immediately see results. Klubnik leads a 71-yard touchdown drive to tie it up late in the first quarter. Klubnik goes 5 for 5 on the drive and caps it with a touchdown pass to Davis Allen in the corner. Not sure you can go back to DJU anytime soon after such a stark contrast in offensive performance.