CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WNCN) — The Tar Heels opened up ACC play hosting Clemson in Chapel Hill on Saturday afternoon.
To put it lightly, things continue to spiral for this Tar Heel team as they fall to 2-3 on the season and 0-1 in conference play after the 38-10 loss to Clemson.
Their record doesn’t fully capture the struggles they’ve endured this year. Once again, they looked out of sync in all phases of the game.
By the end of the first quarter, Clemson led 28-3, piling up 253 yards of total offense. Cade Klubnik had already thrown three touchdown passes, and any hopes of a comeback seemed out of reach. That early onslaught set the tone for the rest of the night as the Tar Heels continued to falter.
Coming in, Clemson ranked just 115th nationally in points per game, averaging a little over 19. But against Carolina, they looked unstoppable.
The Tar Heels’ offense, meanwhile, could never find a rhythm. Students began leaving the stands before halftime as the frustration mounted.
By the break, Clemson had scored five touchdowns. Klubnik was nearly perfect, completing 21 of 23 passes for 251 yards and four touchdowns. On the other side, Max Johnson went 11 of 18 for just 66 yards and no scores, while the Tar Heels managed only 12 rushing yards in the entire first half.
The damage was done early, and by the time UNC settled in, the hole was far too deep to climb out of. Their lone touchdown didn’t come until the fourth quarter, when Benjamin Hall broke through for an 11-yard score.
The Tar Heels fall to 2-3 on the season and 0-1 in conference play with a 38-10 loss to Clemson.