Week 4 Analytics: A Functional Win

This wasn't a pretty football game, and Clemson still has plenty to clean up. The offense remains a work in progress, particularly through the air, and the number of penalties on both sides added to the sloppy feel of the night. But there was a meaningful difference from some of Clemson's earlier performances: the offense was functional enough to complement the defense. Clemson ran the ball, sustained possessions, converted when it needed to, and — perhaps most importantly — gave its defense time to recover instead of repeatedly sending it back onto the field after a three-and-out. The defense continued to create disruption and opportunities, while the offense eventually did enough to turn those advantages into a comfortable fourth-quarter finish. It was an ugly win in spots, but a win nonetheless.

Clemson Overall Offense — PFF 65.4