Is Clemson's 'best game' good enough? Tigers will find out in remainder of 2026.
· Yahoo Sports
Oct. 18—CLEMSON — Is Clemson's best good enough?
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The Tigers took down Charleston Southern 37-0 on Oct. 17 in the widest margin of victory for coach Dabo Swinney's 4-2 (2-1 ACC) squad this season. They shut out their opponent for the first time since 2021. That, plus three touchdowns from the offense and a fourth by the special teams unit, amounts to Clemson's most complete game in 2026.
Swinney thinks so too, calling it his team's best game and saying Clemson dominated from start to finish.
"I think we made a big improvement today on doing the routine things better, but we got to take another step," he said. "There were still some missed opportunities and some plays that we need to make."
Evidently, Clemson's best so far still isn't the team's full potential, so Swinney says.
But the Buccaneers (3-4, 0-2 OVC) were the Tigers' least formidable opponent. Clemson is seemingly banking on getting better against tougher competition. Otherwise, Swinney will have to hope what the Tigers have is already enough for five straight ACC games and rivalry matchup.
Swinney impressed with Reynolds despite low output
Just looking at the stat sheet, it was not freshman quarterback Tait Reynolds' best game.
He didn't throw for any touchdowns or a season high in yards. He didn't have his most completions or highest completion percentage. The biggest thing that stands out from the box score is he didn't turn the ball over for the first time as a starter — because his weekly fumble was recovered by Clemson.
But Swinney sees more than the stats, and what he saw was Reynolds take another step forward in his first career start.
"I thought it was Tait's best game by far," Swinney said. "Decision making, just playing with rhythm, poise, and just really confident in everything he was doing. I thought he ran the ball with authority and ran the ball with confidence."
So what's with the statistical discrepancy? Swinney said it fell on the receivers and a handful of drops this weekend.
"Can't throw it no better. Put three, really four, right on the money," he said. "If we catch a couple of those touchdowns, you're probably not asking me that."
Swinney later said had Clemson scored on its dropped chances earlier on, he probably would've pulled Reynolds sooner than late in the third quarter, but nothing came of the extra drives.
Less is Moore
The culprit behind a handful of those dropped passes was T.J. Moore. Clemson took four 1 on 1, vertical shots to Moore in the end zone during the first half, and each was either dropped or defended well by Charleston Southern.
He finished with two catches on six targets for nine yards and no touchdowns.
Swinney said forcing the ball Moore's way early on wasn't intentional, it's just what happened to be open.
"(Reynolds) just threw the ball where it was supposed to be," Swinney said. "He threw three to T.J. that were on the money. ... Not a great day for T.J. today. He'll bounce back."
Even if feeding him opportunities wasn't intentional, Moore could sure use the boost in production. He's on pace for 471 receiving yards, 51 catches and three touchdowns. All three would be career lows in a season.
It's way, way too early to be speculating about future plans, but Moore's production is certainly underwhelming in his first draft-eligible season.
Special teams lifted by Bisaccia
Swinney said the only unit that's shown up every single week, without a doubt, is special teams.
It's evident and impactful on the field. Clemson started eight of its 11 drives in the game at its 30-yard line or better, in large part due to long returns on punts and kickoffs. The special teams also forced its second turnover of the season and scored its second touchdown in 2026 when Kylon Griffin returned a fumble forced by Tristan Smith and C.J. Kubah-Taylor.
New special teams coach Rich Bisaccia has gotten a decent amount of praise for revitalizing a unit that's been far more impactful than in years past.
"It's amazing, man. Coach Rich is amazing," Griffin said. "He fits perfectly into what we're trying to do. It's an obvious difference."
Kicker Nolan Hauser looks like one of the best kickers in the country as well. He's kicking over 90 percent on field goals this year and set a new career-long of 59 yards against Charleston Southern. His record kick, which was attempted with the wind blowing into Hauser, surpassed his previous best of 56 yards to beat SMU in the 2024 ACC Championship.
It's the second longest field goal in program history, behind a 61-yarder by Spencer Benton against Ball State in 2012.
"I threw up some grass. ... 'Looks like it's going that way. Hell, let's kick it,'" Swinney said.
The risks paid off, both letting Hauser kick it on Saturday and bringing in Bisaccia from the NFL.
Burley makes impact after suspension
Clemson defensive tackle Vic Burley is turning his recent troubles into a lesson learned.
Burley entered the season as an X-factor for Clemson. The former five-star recruit had failed to make an impact through his first three years on campus, but he was set to be an important part of the rotation on the interior line.
Then, Burley was arrested on Aug. 22 and later pleaded guilty to public disorderly conduct. He was suspended from the team indefinitely and missed the first two games before being reinstated for Clemson's game vs. North Carolina on Sept. 19.
He played sparingly in the two games following his reinstatement as Swinney said he was behind on conditioning after being away from the team.
Against Charleston Southern, Burley had his best game so far this season. He played a longer stretch than usual and picked up a fourth quarter sack that helped keep the shutout intact.
Burley will be needed in a Clemson DT room that's dealt with injuries and low production this season. He's still catching up, but his impact after the suspension is being felt early on.
"I want to thank the team for accepting me back," Burley. "Watching the game that I love be stripped away from me and not being able to do it, it gave me a new appreciation for the game."
Back in the 'skillet'
Swinney remarked after the win that it was helpful for Clemson to catch its breath and take in what it had learned from the first five games of 2026 by having a week off and then facing an FCS opponent. The Tigers had never played an FCS opponent out of a bye under Swinney. He described Clemson's usual bye process as a quick break before jumping right back into the grind of preparing for an ACC game.
"You got 48 hours to catch your breath, and then you're right back in the skillet, and you're playing V-Tech this week, right?" he said. "So to be able to have a little more time ... it's just good to be able to get those guys out there."
Well, break time and FCS fun time is over. Back to the skillet you go, Clemson.
The Tigers will play five conference opponents in a year that's shown the ACC defines the idea of any given Saturday. Then they will play the annual rivalry with South Carolina, where records go out the window and chaos ensues.
What comes next will ultimately lead back to the initial feelings from postgame. Clemson played its best game, sure, but can it get better? If not, is its current best good enough?
Time will tell, and there's no more bye weeks to slow it down.
Reach Jackson Castellano at [email protected]. Follow him on X @jaxacastellano.