Clemson makes QB change in 1st quarter vs. UNC

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said that starting quarterback DJ Uiagalelei would have to play well to stay in the ACC championship game against North Carolina.

It took Swinney less than a quarter to make a change.

Clemson turned to freshman Cade Klubnik with 5:58 left in the first quarter. Klubnik led Clemson down the field for a touchdown on his opening drive, going 5-for-5 and finishing the drive with a touchdown pass to tight end Davis Allen.

Clemson went three-and-out on Uiagalelei’s first two drives prior to the quarterback change.

This is the ninth game Klubnik has appeared in this season. He was most recently 2-for-2 for 13 yards against Miami on Nov. 19.

Uiagalelei completed only 8 of 29 passes last weekend in a 31-30 loss to South Carolina. However, Swinney said that Uiagalelei was not the reason for the loss.

Clemson is playing in the ACC championship game for the seventh time in eight seasons.

The Tigers have won six of the past seven ACC titles and are 7-1 in ACC championship games under Dabo Swinney.

North Carolina is in the ACC championship for only the second time and for the first time under Mack Brown.

Both teams enter the game after a loss. North Carolina dropped back-to-back games prior to the ACC championship, falling to Georgia Tech and NC State the past two weekends.

Clemson lost to rival South Carolina last weekend and had its 40-game home winning streak snapped in the process.

The Tigers are favored by 7.5 points for Saturday’s ACC championship game.

“To be able to get back there for the seventh time in eight years, it’s special,” Swinney said earlier this week. “It’s really special to have that type of consistency. Proud of these guys. It’s not easy to do. They’ve earned it.”