INSIDE SLANT

Clemson knew before kickoff against Virginia that the Tigers had earned a berth in the ACC championship game by virtue of Boston College’s loss to North Carolina earlier in the day.

But the Tigers didn’t want to win the Atlantic Division because they had beaten BC back in September.

“We said we wanted to win it outright,” senior guard Thomas Austin said after the Tigers did just that with their 34-21 decision over Virginia. “We didn’t want it to come to a tiebreaker. That’s what championship teams do.”

The news of BC’s loss—delivered by coach Dabo Swinney before the game—“wasn’t a factor at all,” Austin continued. “You can’t let it change your motivation. You want to win no matter what. We want to win next week against South Carolina because that’s the game, and we only have 12 regular-season games on the schedule.”

Virginia didn’t go down without a fight. Clemson never trailed in the game, but the score was tied twice in the early going when the Cavaliers responded to Tigers’ scores with touchdowns of their own, and the Tigers led only 24-21 at halftime.

“We didn’t play smart in the first half,” Swinney said. “We weren’t disciplined with our eyes. And they had a lot of trick plays in the first half. Our staff made great adjustments at halftime, and we challenged them in the second half. This team never gave up, and they came out in the second half to win this game.”

The victory stretched the Tigers’ winning streak to six games. They haven’t lost since dropping a 24-21 stunner to Maryland back on Oct. 3.

After playing at rival South Carolina, they will get a rematch with Coastal Division winner Georgia Tech in the conference title game in Tampa on Dec. 5.

“We’ve been hearing about emotional letdowns for seven straight weeks,” senior tight end Michael Palmer said. “That’s not something we’re concerned about at all. I think our team will come out focused and ready for South Carolina.”

NOTES, QUOTES

• RB C.J. Spiller set the conference single-season for all-purpose yards after running for 58 yards, catching five passes for 39 more, and returning a punt for 17 yards to raise his total to 2,066 yards, 12 more than the record for all-purpose yards set by Virginia’s Thomas Jones in 1999. Spiller, who scored on a 4-yard run in the second quarter, is the only player in the nation to score at least one touchdown in every game played this season. So far this year, the Heisman Trophy candidate has scored 15 touchdowns in 11 games.

• The team’s tight ends tied Clemson’s school record for receptions in a season with 46 after senior Michael Palmer (three) and redshirt freshman Dwayne Allen (one) raised the total to 46. The previous record for receptions by tight ends was set by the 1970 team. Allen’s touchdown catch was the seventh score by a tight end, also tying a school single-season record set in 1974, when Bernie Cunningham had seven TD receptions by himself.

• QB Kyle Parker continued his solid recent play by going 19 of 26 for 234 yards and two touchdowns. He completed his first 10 attempts and didn’t have an interception. He has thrown for 1,051 yards over the past four games.

Game Ball Goes To:   WR Jacoby Ford—A senior, Ford had a career day for all-purpose yards with 211, which is 41 more than his previous best set against Temple in 2006. Ford had a 16-yard run, six receptions for 106 yards (one touchdown), and 89 yards on punt and kickoff returns against Virginia. His 22-yard return on Virginia’s first punt gave the Tigers possession at the Cavs 48-yard line, and they needed only four plays to score their first touchdown.

Keep An Eye On:   DT Rennie Moore—The sophomore backup had two sacks against Virginia, including one on Virginia’s final play. The stops accounted for 23 yards in losses for Virginia and give him 2.5 sacks for the season.

Quote To Note:   “Our first goal was to clinch the ACC Atlantic Division, and we did that. Our next goal is to win a state championship against South Carolina next weekend. Our third goal is to win the ACC championship game. Our fourth goal is to win a bowl game. We’re happy today, but we’re not done yet.”—Coach Dabo Swinney, after the win over Virginia gave the Tigers the division title.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

Looking Good:   The defense held Virginia to just 40 yards total offense in the second half after giving up 233 in the first half. LB Kavell Conner led the way with a career-high 15 tackles, followed by LB Brandon Maye with 12 and FS Marcus Gilchrist with 11. The Tigers registered seven sacks, two by DT Rennie Moore and one each by LB Kevin Alexander, DE Ricky Sapp, NG Jamie Cumbie, DE Andre Branch, and LB Jeremy Campbell. QB Kyle Parker was 19-for-26 passing with completions to seven receivers for 234 yards.

Still Needs Work:   The Tigers wasted an early scoring opportunity when they couldn’t get a first down on third-and-1 from Virginia’s 4-yard line and then came up short on fourth-and-2 from the 5. Overall, the Tigers converted only five of 13 third-down situations. The Tigers also had to kick off from their own 15-yard line because of an unsportsmanlike penalty against TE Dwayne Allen, who saluted the fans in the end zone stands after his touchdown catch (it was military recognition day), and the Cavaliers had to go only 45 yards for their first touchdown.

Roster Report:  

• LG Thomas Austin (foot), listed as “doubtful” on the late-week injury report, started, but DE Da’Quan Bowers (knee) missed his third consecutive game.

• K Richard Jackson assumed responsibilities for field goals, making two but missing from 52 yards, and extra points (making all four). K Spencer Benton handled kickoffs for the Tigers. Benton had one touchback in seven attempts, and the Cavaliers started three other drives from inside their 20-yard line.