UNC-Clemson winners, losers: Don't overthink it with Bill Belichick, Dabo Swinney - USA Today

They booed Clemson early, and left during an extended weather delay. Then missed the possible turning point for a teetering season.

Clemson got more than a comeback win over North Carolina on Saturday, it may have found its quarterback of the present and future ― a development that may just change the course of the program, and embattled coach Dabo Swinney.

Here are winners and losers from Clemson's 21-20 victory over North Carolina.

It’s time to see this for what it is: Clemson just doesn’t have dudes. 

Doesn’t matter who’s calling plays on offense or defense, or the decisions Swinney is making on game day. This is about roster building — and Clemson’s inability to sign and develop high school players like it once did.

Then North Carolina arrived in Death Valley, and a freshman quarterback and sophomore running back ― both high school recruits ― have suddenly helped right the ship at Clemson. For a game, at least.

Welcome to the new Clemson, with a nod to the old way of doing things. Get a blue-chip freshman quarterback, put pieces around him and watch it go.

So Tait Reynolds isn't DeShaun Watson or Trevor Lawrence. Or even Tajh Boyd. He's exactly what an unsettling season needed.

From down 17-3 to Team Chaos, to scoring 25 of the next 28 points, the world suddenly looks more palatable at Clemson. This doesn't erase what happened at LSU, nor does it make 2025 feel any better.

But it provides hope ― for Clemson and Swinney.

You can criticize Swinney’s stance against the transfer portal — frankly, it would be great for the game if his stance stood up — and say that’s where this downfall begins and ends. But if Clemson still recruited high schools well (it hasn't had a Top 10 recruiting class since 2021), and developed and retained those players, we’re not even talking about the end of Swinney at Clemson.

Reynolds and running back Gideon Davidson are homegrown hope, and a turn in the road for Swinney's philosophy of building organically.

The first month of the season has been as attractive as Belichick in a tight sweatshirt. Then it got worse at Clemson.

The Tar Heels blew a 17-3 lead. They ran for more than 200 yards, and lost. The defense, Belichick's foundation of his football life, collapsed in the second half.

But no matter what you think of North Carolina rolling into Death Valley and blowing a big game, check out the next six weeks for Team Beli: Notre Dame, at Pittsburgh, at Duke, Syracuse, Miami.

Four of those five teams haven’t lost this season, and UNC’s 2-1 start can quickly deteriorate to 3-5 — with some heavy lifting remaining in November. But let’s stay positive, shall we?

TCU trampled Belichick’s Tar Heels in his first game in 2025, and couldn’t get in the end zone in Round 2. Clemson did what it wanted to UNC last season, but needed a wild comeback Saturday. Baby steps, everyone.

The horizon looks formidable, and the ugly isn't over. Not by a longshot. 

Let me introduce Coaches Overthinking It 101. 

I don’t know what the Clemson staff saw in spring practice and fall camp, but Reynolds should’ve been starting from Play 1. Only a left non-throwing arm injury to Chris Vizzina in last week’s ugly win over Georgia Southern got Reynolds on the field for extended time. 

Swinney said last week the staff planned to put Vizzina back in the game after initially taking him out, but that Vizzina “couldn’t feel his left arm.” It’s all moot now, Reynolds isn’t giving up the job.

Reynolds can make every throw, and is a willing, powerful runner. All he needs is repetitions. 

It got ugly early against one of the ACC’s better defenses, but Reynolds (215 yards passing, 25 yards rushing) figured it out late in the second quarter and played nearly flawlessly the rest of the way. Gave Clemson a chance to win, and gave the program hope for the future. 

What we all saw the first two games of the season was underscored against Clemson: Edwards’ inability to throw with accuracy downfield leaves the offense predictable.

North Carolina will not rush for more than 200 yards (more on that later) in every game, and will need more than a functional pass game — with accurate second- and third-level throws — in the critical stretch over the next six weeks.

The Tar Heels have difference-makers in the pass game, but wideout Jordan Shipp and tight end Jelani Thurman aren’t getting the ball. How much longer can UNC successfully play it safe, run the ball and hope Edwards won’t have to win games with his arm?  

Belichick zeroed in on the offensive line all offseason, a major problem in 2025 and the unit — more than any other — had to get better if new offensive coordinator Bob Petrino could have an immediate impact.

We’re now three games into Beli 2.0, and it’s clear the offensive line has upgraded. UNC added four of five starters from the transfer portal, including center Christo Kelly and guard Andrew Threatt — two of three emerging interior linemen giving the Tar Heels a physical presence in the run game.

Al three UNC running backs — Benjamin Hall, Jaylen McGill, Demon June — run hard and move the pile. The Tar Heels had 214 yards on 39 carries against Clemson, and dictated tempo all game.  

Needless to say, the days of Christian Wilkins, Dexter Lawrence, Bryan Bresee and Shaq Lawson are long gone. 

In two games against Power conference teams (LSU, UNC), the Tigers have given up 523 yards and 5 touchdowns. As bad as it looked against LSU in the season opener, it was just as damaging against UNC. 

When you can’t stop the run, you can’t dictate tempo and allow a pass-limited offense (see: UNC) to avoid difficult down-and-distance situations. The Clemson defense — whose best lineman is stand-up rush end Will Heldt — was worn out early, and even with a weather delay, couldn’t hold up at the point of attack in a critical fourth quarter.

Imagine having to deal with the reality that the greatest coach in the history of your program ― one of the greatest in the modern era of the sport ― may have to eventually be pushed out?

Maybe Reynolds is the first big step. Clemson hasn't had a legitimate threat at quarterback since Lawrence left for the NFL, with the exception of one season with Cade Klubnik. If Reynolds is a threat in the run and pass games, any Swinney decision will be much easier for Clemson.

There’s an easy way out of this thing, and it will cost $10 million at the end of the season.

The next six weeks will determine Belichick's future at North Carolina. Not the resignation of his general manager, or the resignation of his defensive coordinator or the resignation of anyone else.

Because with each loss, the circus that has followed Belichick to Chapel Hill will get more unwieldy for the UNC administration to get its arms around.

Matt Hayes is the senior national college football writer for USA TODAY Sports Network. Follow him on X at @MattHayesCFB. Listen to him daily, from 12-2 p.m., on 1010XL-Jacksonville.