Dabo Swinney shares recollection of 2021 loss to NC State

This week, Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers will travel to play at the NC State Wolfpack. For Clemson, it will be the team’s first time back there since losing a tough game in double overtime during the 2021 season.

Dabo Swinney still remembers that game clearly and he shared those memories of the 2021 loss ahead of this season’s meeting.

“I remember they made a couple of just unbelievable plays and found one more play than we did at double overtime,” Dabo Swinney said. “Was a tough, tough, tough loss for sure. Great win for them. They earned it, and again, we had opportunities but they made one more play than we did. So, I remember that. Heck of a game.”

Clemson lost the double overtime thriller by a score of 27-21. It had only been 14-14 going into overtime after both defenses played excellent games, and it was a defensive stop that won NC State the game.

One of the biggest reasons why Clemson struggled so much in that game was that the Tigers only went 2 for 11 on third down and didn’t convert the one fourth down they attempted. On top of that, 13 penalties against Clemson didn’t help either.

At the time, the loss dropped Clemson to just 2-2 on the season. That season, Clemson would go 10-3 and won the Cheez-It Bowl. NC State went to 3-1 with that win, on their way to a 9-3 finish. Their bowl was canceled. Coming into this year’s game, both teams have losing records in ACC play and desperately need a win to turn things around.

Dabo Swinney shares what makes NC State rivalry unique

Ahead of the game against NC State, Dabo Swinney explained what he thinks makes the NC State rivalry unique.

“Well I think that goes way back probably before my time for sure, I mean it’s the Textile Bowl. A lot of people forget that, this is actually one of those games where the winning team gets a trophy. It’s the same trophy but it travels, it either comes back to Clemson or it stays in Raleigh. So it’s I think a game that’s meant a lot to a lot of people for a long time as the Textile Bowl if you will,” Swinney said.

“And listen, NC State is an outstanding program. They’ve always got good players, they’re tough, they’re physical. I think Dave and his staff, he’s got an excellent staff, they do a great job. So it’s a tough game. And then again, we get everybody’s best shot that’s for sure. Clemson has been a great team in the ACC for ever since it was started as a league, we’ve won the league more than any team out there so with that comes, you know, everybody wants to beat you. That’s just part of being Clemson.”