ACC Football

The Clemson Tigers ended an otherwise disappointing season, at least by the program's own lofty standards, on a positive note.

Clemson beat Iowa State 20-13 on Wednesday night at the Cheez-It Bowl, ending its season by reaching the 10-win mark (10-3).

Iowa State, meanwhile, closed out the year at 7-6, a disappointment in its own right given that the program was ranked No. 7 to open the season.

This wasn't the prettiest game. The first half featured three field goals and one missed field goal, as both teams struggled to find an offensive rhythm or close out drives. It wasn't until Will Shipley's rushing touchdown with just under five minutes remaining in the third quarter that either team reached paydirt.

One sharp cut & that's Ship in for six!

📺ESPN | #CheezItBowl | @willshipley2021 pic.twitter.com/CiyCvfRuqm

— Clemson Football (@ClemsonFB) December 30, 2021

Clemson's defense extended that lead on Iowa State's next offensive possession, as Mario Goodrich intercepted a batted pass and took it to the house.

Nacho average INT! 🤯

📺ESPN | @_MG3__ pic.twitter.com/S9jUo7ETqJ

— Clemson Football (@ClemsonFB) December 30, 2021

Iowa State had a chance to make things interesting after battling back in the fourth quarter, getting the ball back with just under two minutes remaining and down seven. But Clemson's defense held.

Some of the sloppiness in this game could be attributed to both teams missing players due either to injuries or COVID-19. Iowa State's best offensive player, running back Breece Hall (1,774 yards from scrimmage, 23 touchdowns), opted out of the game to prepare for the NFL draft.

I promise ima be the biggest Cheerleader today😂🌪

— Breece Hall (@BreeceH) December 29, 2021

Still, to put this game in perspective, it had an Iowa flea-flicker early in the fourth quarter that was intercepted, only for Clemson to fumble the ball back to Iowa State on the return. And none of it mattered because Clemson was flagged for roughing the passer.

Or how about Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy rushing for a first down on a fourth-down attempt with under a minute remaining, only to fumble the ball behind the line-to-gain and turning the ball over because of it?

The Cheez-It Bowl, ladies and gentlemen. Regardless, Clemson will take its win as it looks to return to national prominence in the 2022 season.

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Key Stats

DJ Uiagalelei, Clemson: 21-of-32 for 187 yards and an interception

Will Shipley, Clemson: 18 carries for 61 yards and a score; five catches for 53 yards

Kobe Pace, Clemson: 12 rushes for 51 yards; four catches for 38 yards

Brock Purdy, ISU: 23-of-39 for 204 yards, a touchdown, interception and lost fumble

Jirehl Brock, ISU: 14 carries for 42 yards

Charlie Kolar, ISU: Four catches for 33 yards and a touchdown

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Clemson's Defense Bailed Out Its Offense. Again.

Clemson's issues this season weren't on the defensive side of the ball. After all, coming into Wednesday the Tigers were giving up just 15 points per game, the second-best mark in this country, and just 308.4 yards per game (ninth).

This is still the team that opened the season by losing just 10-3 to Georgia, one of four teams left battling for a championship, after all. Even if new Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables is no longer the defensive coordinator, replaced by Wes Goodwin.

See we told y’all Wes would keep the defense right! #Clemson

— DeShawn Williams (@iamDeShawnW) December 30, 2021

Clemson's defense has now allowed just 6 points off turnovers this year, both field goals. Clemson's offense has given up 21 points directly off turnovers | #Clemson

— Will Vandervort (@steelerwill) December 30, 2021

So it wasn't a surprise that the Tigers defense was stingy Wednesday and scored a defensive touchdown, or only gave up a field goal after a Clemson turnover. As Clemson's offense struggled repeatedly to put Iowa State away despite multiple opportunities in the fourth quarter, the defense held firm.

It's just so depressing watching the Clemson offense. I know how it got here, and there's no guarantee it stays here, but ... woof. "We don't trust anyone to do anything, so let's just try another draw play."

— Bill Connelly (@ESPN_BillC) December 30, 2021

It was the story of Clemson's season, neatly packaged in one game. Had the offense showed up more consistently in big games, perhaps the Tigers wouldn't have been in the Cheez-It Bowl in the first place.

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The Cyclones Really Missed Hall

Iowa State came into this game knowing it was going to be difficult to replace Hall's impact on the offense.

"Yeah, I think we have to find out," offensive coordinator Tom Manning told reporters about what the offense would look like in Hall's absence. "Certainly, we feel like we have options, but Jirehl [Brock] is a guy that's played a lot of football for us. Certainly, Breece has carried the football a lot more, as we all know. I think we have to get into the football game and see where we are at in terms of handing the football off and how much we can handle and make some decisions based on that."

The result wasn't pretty. Iowa State rushed for just 66 yards, and in turn the passing game suffered without the ground game as much of a threat.

Iowa State's defense kept things close in the first half before Clemson started to pull away in the third quarter. And the Tigers defense obviously deserves credit. But life after Hall got off to a rocky start for the Cyclones.

The Miami Hurricanes will not participate in the 2021 Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl against Washington State because of COVID-19 protocols, the team announced Sunday. 

Miami released an official statement on its website about its withdrawal from the game:

“We are extremely disappointed that our football team will be unable to participate in the 2021 Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl,” Deputy Director of Athletics/Chief Operating Officer Jennifer Strawley said. “But due to the number of COVID-19 cases impacting our roster we do not have enough student-athletes to safely compete, and the health and safety of our student-athletes will always be our top priority. This team worked hard all season to earn a bowl invitation and my heart goes out to our student-athletes, especially our seniors. I also want to thank Interim Head Coach Jess Simpson and our football staff for all of their efforts in preparation for this bowl game.

“We regret the impact this has on the Washington State program and their postseason experience. I want to commend the Sun Bowl Association for their tireless work in helping us navigate this situation over the past several days. We are grateful for their support as an Atlantic Coast Conference bowl partner.”

The news comes after ESPN's Andrea Adelson reported on Dec. 23 that multiple Hurricanes players had tested positive for COVID-19. 

Adelson also reported that the team's COVID-19 issues would prevent the Hurricanes from traveling to El Paso, Texas, for the matchup until one day before the game was set to be played on Dec. 31. 

In addition, Sun Bowl executive director Bernie Olivas told Adelson the Hurricanes were "doing everything they can to play" in the Sun Bowl. 

"I think they really want to be at the game; the way I understand it their results are headed in the right direction," Olivas said at the time. "We're all optimistic they're going to be here."

Miami finished the season 7-5 and won five of its final six games to reach bowl eligibility and earn a spot in the Sun Bowl. Washington State also finished 7-5 and won three of its final four games. 

The Hurricanes aren't the first major program to pull out of a bowl game this year. COVID-19 and injuries forced Texas A&M to withdraw from the Gator Bowl against Wake Forest.

Other teams to pull out of their respective bowl games include the Virginia Cavaliers, Boston College Eagles and the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors. 

Texas A&M has droppede out of the Gator Bowl due to an outbreak of COVID-19.

TEXAS A&M WITHDRAWS PARTICIPATION IN TAXSLAYER GATOR BOWL DUE TO COVID-19 ISSUES

Full Press Release ⤵️ https://t.co/KsniwCVj7T pic.twitter.com/cyvH3Rb5jZ

— TaxSlayer Gator Bowl (@taxslayerbowl) December 22, 2021

Ross Dellenger of Sports Illustrated first reported the news.

The Aggies were scheduled to face Wake Forest on Dec. 31 at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Florida.

"We are disappointed that Texas A&M University and the Aggie fans will be unable to represent the Southeastern Conference in Jacksonville at this year’s TaxSlayer Gator Bowl game. However, the health and safety of the student-athletes, coaches and staff remains our primary concern" TaxSlayer Gator Bowl Chairman John Duce said in a statement.

The Gator Bowl is seeking a replacement, but Dellenger reported this would only happen if another bowl game was affected by COVID-19, leaving a second team without an opponent.

Dellenger noted teams do not receive a payout if a bowl game isn't played; the Gator Bowl's payout would be $5.35 million.

Texas A&M reportedly hadn't practiced in about a week because of COVID-19 concerns, with several athletes testing positive on Sunday and Monday, per Jeff Tarpley of 247Sports. The team met virtually on Tuesday.

Gator Bowl president Greg McGarity said on Tuesday that "everything is still a go for the game."

"We've been made aware of those concerns," he said of Texas A&M. "If there are any issues, we'll find out as soon as possible."

If it can't play, Texas A&M will finish its season 8-4 without the chance to win its fourth straight bowl game. 

At 10-3, Wake Forest has already clinched its first double-digit win season since 2006.

Tight end prospect Jaleel Skinner announced Friday he will sign with Miami after initially committing to Alabama.

305 I’m coming 🧡💚 pic.twitter.com/YociD9gDuc

— Jaleel Skinner (@jaleel_skinner) December 17, 2021

Oh you thought we were done...

Welcome to The U, @jaleel_skinner! pic.twitter.com/HyplSp9yZh

— Miami Hurricanes Football (@CanesFootball) December 17, 2021

The 4-star prospect committed to Alabama in October but chose not to sign his letter of intent during Wednesday's start of the early signing period. He has now flipped his commitment, becoming one of the top players in the 2022 class for new head coach Mario Cristobal.

Skinner is considered the third-best tight end in the country, per 247Sports' composite rankings, and the No. 98 player overall.

At 6'5", 210 pounds, Skinner has excellent size for the position with the type of speed that could make him a true mismatch at the higher levels. 

It could represent a significant addition for a Hurricanes squad that finished just 7-5 this season.

This is also a valuable building-block for Cristobal, who was hired as the head coach earlier this month to replace Manny Diaz.

Though Skinner will be just the ninth player signed in the team's 2022 class, eight of those players are 4-star recruits. As Gaby Urrutia of 247Sports noted, Miami's average recruit rating is fifth-best in the country.

It could lead to a quick turnaround for the program as it looks to return to contention in the ACC.   

Clemson head football coach Dabo Swinney lamented the current state of the NCAA transfer portal given the new name, image and likeness (NIL) rules and suggested a return of the one-year waiting period to become eligible at a new school.

Swinney told reporters Wednesday the current structure takes away from education and puts student-athletes at risk of manipulation:

It's crazy, it's really sad to be honest with you. There's right around 2,000 kids in the portal and most of them don't have anywhere to go. There's so much tampering going on and so many adults manipulating young people. It's sad, but you know, it it what it is from that standpoint. You've got a lot of young people that ... there's a time and a place, but most of the kids are in there when they shouldn't be in there.

Some are and some shouldn't. Some of the lessons we're teaching young people I don't think is going to benefit them well as they move through their life. It is something everybody has to manage and deal with. There's no consequences. There's no rules. I'm all for transferring. I personally think we should let them go whenever they want. I just think they should sit a year and then you get that year back upon graduation. What we've done is decentivize and devalue education and I think that's the wrong approach.

Once it became clear college athletes would finally be free to sign NIL deals, a long-awaited outcome accelerated by a Supreme Court ruling in June, the next question was whether there'd be a uniform set of guidelines for all schools or if it'd become the Wild West. So far the answer is the latter.

Although some athletes have signed individual endorsement contracts and other NIL agreements, the biggest use of the ability to pay college athletes has been boosters providing either team-wide or group deals.

One recent agreement that generated headlines was the nonprofit group Horns With Heart offering $50,000 annually to all Texas offensive linemen who worked with local charities.

While Horns With Heart told Jim Vertuno of the Associated Press they will follow all guidelines respective to making sure players who are paid actually contribute in the community, those types of deals have raised questions about whether smaller schools will get lost in a financial bidding war.

Former Iowa State and Auburn head coach Gene Chizik, who currently works as an ESPN analyst, raised that issue Tuesday on Twitter:

Every scholarship offensive lineman at UT will get $50,000/yr with new NIL deal. Not to mention the 200,000 education. Americans struggle finding $50,000 jobs to feed their children. Next it’s 100,000/player with no end in sight. Flawed system!!!! Most $$ wins!#WordsofChizdom

— Gene Chizik (@CoachGeneChizik) December 14, 2021

Part of the counterargument is centered on the endless movement of coaches around the country—leaving a program at a moment's notice for a more lucrative contract elsewhere, something that's already happened several times this year.

High school players are going to face difficult decisions in the years ahead with all the money now being thrown around.

The most common question they'll likely face is whether to take guaranteed money at a high-profile school, where they may end up buried on a depth chart behind other prized prospects, or go to a smaller program that may not have as much NIL backing but could be better for their long-term development as a player.

Swinney predicted Wednesday the overwhelming attention on football and the connected NIL opportunities will decrease the focus on graduation and, over time, create other issues for student-athletes that won't make them "truly equipped" for life after college football:

We're going to have a lot of young people that aren't going to graduate. Mental health is one of the biggest issues in college. There's a lot of kids whose identity is wrapped up in football and all this does is further that. When they get to these other places and they think the grass is greener and they realize the mirror traveled with them, I think a lot of kids are going to suffer. I think graduation rates are going to go down and it'll be interesting to see where that is five years from now, 10 years from now.

So far, the NCAA's interim NIL guidelines posted after the Supreme Court's ruling delegated most of the responsibility to individual schools based on their respective state laws, and there hasn't been a sustained push to centralize the rapidly evolving environment.

Florida State announced that it has verbally agreed to a one-year contract extension with head football coach Mike Norvell, whose deal will now run through the 2026 season.

Norvell has coached FSU for two seasons, amassing an 8-13 (6-10 ACC) record along the way.

The Seminoles had an up-and-down 2021 campaign that included a near-upset over No. 5 Notre Dame on the road to start the year. FSU also scored wins over North Carolina and Miami.

On the flip side, the Tallahassee university also lost a last-second heartbreaker to FCS Jacksonville State, which finished its season 5-6.

However, FSU clearly improved as the year went on, finishing 5-3 in its final eight games after starting 0-4.

Norvell's original contract in 2019 was for $26.5 million over six years, per Chris Nee of Noles247.

The 40-year-old is overseeing a big rebuild at Florida State amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Texas native faced significant difficulties in his first year as head coach.

Per Nee, FSU only got three spring practices in during the 2020 offseason before COVID-19 shut down operations. In addition, Norvell oversaw the nation's youngest team with first- or second-year players constituting 75 percent of the roster.

Norvell had great success at Memphis before taking the FSU job, going 38-16 in four years there. The 2019 Memphis team went 12-2 and made a Cotton Bowl appearance.

Florida State will look to get 2022 off to a good start on Aug. 27 when it hosts Duquesne.

There is no clear favorite to be the first quarterback taken in the 2022 NFL draft, but Pittsburgh's Kenny Pickett has impressed scouts.

One AFC executive provided an interesting comparison, telling Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated: "He's a good version of Johnny Football—better frame, head on shoulders and arm, and he's a better leader."

Johnny Manziel (6'0", 207 lbs) was a first-round pick in 2014 out of Texas A&M, but he only lasted two seasons and eight starts in the NFL.

The executive continued: "Athletic, gutsy. … Kind of hit the scene hard out of nowhere like [Joe] Burrow and balled out. Love the kid. He's got the it factor. Kid has balls. … We have a ways to go, but definitely if the draft was today, he would be [the first quarterback] taken."

The 6'3", 220-pound senior enters the bowl season with 4,319 passing yards and 42 touchdowns against seven interceptions in 13 games, adding 233 rushing yards and five touchdowns on the ground.

Pickett also led Pittsburgh to an ACC title and an appearance in the Peach Bowl while finishing third in voting for the Heisman Trophy.

He turned heads during the ACC Championship Game with a fake slide that led to a rushing touchdown:

Kenny Pickett BURNED Wake Forest on this TD 💨

(via @Pitt_FB)pic.twitter.com/ZgWJLZ1upL

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 5, 2021

Despite his production and highlight-reel plays, there could be some concern of him being a one-year wonder after never topping 13 touchdown passes in any of his previous four seasons at Pittsburgh.

For recent similar examples, Joe Burrow has played well in the NFL after just one year of college dominance, but the jury is still out on 2020 breakout star Zach Wilson.

It leaves a wide-open race for the top quarterback in the 2022 class, with Cincinnati's Desmond Ridder, Liberty's Malik Willis and Ole Miss' Matt Corral the other top contenders.   

The NCAA is investigating two "high-profile" NIL deals involving football players at BYU and Miami "for potential violations of the association's interim rules regarding new marketing rights for college athletes," according to Sportico's Daniel Libit and Eben Novy-Williams. 

The two deals might qualify as a pay-for-play setup, per Sportico, which is prohibited under NIL guidelines.

The BYU deal is reportedly in partnership with protein bar company Built, which provided compensation for every member of the football team. The Miami deal was with American Top Team, an MMA and Brazilian jiu-jitsu gym, which offered compensation to every member of the Hurricanes football program.

"We have communicated with the NCAA concerning the Built Bar NIL arrangement," Jon McBride, BYU's associate athletic director for communications and media strategy, told Sportico. "They have informed us they do not have any additional questions at this time. We will continue to monitor and abide by the NCAA interim NIL policy."

Miami told Sportico the school had not been contacted by the NCAA about the issue. 

Among prohibitions, NIL compensation cannot be given or offered to players based on their enrollment at specific schools, meaning it can't be dependent on their commitment to play for a school.

The NCAA's interim NIL policy took effect in June, allowing student-athletes to benefit from their names, images and likenesses. Student-athletes are allowed to engage in NIL activity that is consistent with the law of the state where the school is located. In addition, they have to report their NIL deals to their schools. 

Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott has reportedly accepted an offer to become the new head football coach at Virginia.

ESPN's Chris Low reported Friday that Elliott informed the Cavaliers of his decision following "a day of deep thought."

It's the first head coaching opportunity for the 42-year-old California native, who won the Broyles Award in 2017 as college football's top assistant coach.

Elliott joined the Clemson football team as a walk-on freshman in 1999. He appeared in 44 games as a wide receiver and served as a co-captain for the Tigers as a senior in 2003.

His coaching career started as a wide receivers coach at South Carolina State in 2006. He also made a stop at Furman (2008-10) in the same role before returning to the Tigers as a running backs coach in 2011.

Elliott held various roles across his decade on the Clemson staff. Most recently, he'd been serving as the team's assistant head coach and tight ends coach in addition to his work as offensive coordinator.

He was courted by Tennessee during last year's coaching carousel before deciding to remain with the Tigers.

"But at the end of the day, it just wasn't the right time," Elliott told reporters in March. "Man, I'm just so happy to be here, you guys know I love it here. It's a special place."

Now he'll head to Virginia, where he'll be a direct competitor of Dabo Swinney and Co. in the ACC, though the programs are in opposite divisions.

Meanwhile, the Cavs' search for a head coach began last week when Bronco Mendenhall announced he was stepping down after the team's bowl game. UVA has since been selected to face off with SMU in the Fenway Bowl on Dec. 29.

"I would love to say there's been this buildup and a long amount of epiphanies and thought, but clearly this week there was a sense of clarity to me that I needed to step back from college football and reassess, renew, reframe and reinvent, with my wife as a partner, our future and the next chapter of our lives," Mendenhall said.

Virginia has compiled a 36-38 record across Mendenhall's six-year tenure.

Elliott's first order of business after getting his staff in place will likely be trying to upgrade the Cavaliers' 2022 recruiting class, which currently ranks eighth in the ACC with no 5-star prospects and one 4-star recruit, according to 247Sports.

In the bigger picture, he represents a high-upside hire for the Cavs, but it may take a couple years to get the program back in contention for a conference title.

After Brent Venables left Clemson to become the head coach at Oklahoma, one of the Tigers' top 2022 recruits has decommitted from the program. 

Cornerback Daylen Everette issued a statement to Hayes Fawcett of On3.com about his decision to reopen his recruiting: 

I want to thank the whole Clemson staff for everything they’ve done for my family and I. I am very grateful for Coach Swinney, Coach Reed and the rest of the Clemson staff for believing in my talents and providing me with an opportunity to play football at the next level. After a long talk with my family, I have decided that it is in my best interest to decommit from Clemson University. So as of now, I will be opening my recruitment back up. I wish nothing but the best for Clemson University.

Everette, who attends IMG Academy, is a 5-star recruit, the No. 6 cornerback and 29th-ranked overall player in the 2022 class, per 247Sports' composite rankings. 

Clemson got a verbal commitment from Everette in July. 

"It's a national championship team," Everette said of picking the Tigers during an appearance on CBS Sports HQ (h/t David Cobb and Ben Kercheval of CBS Sports). "It's a very prestigious school athletically and academically."  

Everette has become the third high-profile recruit from IMG Academy to decommit from Clemson since Venables was hired by the Sooners on Dec. 5. 

Defensive end Jihaad Campbell and safety Keon Sabb announced earlier this week they were reopening their recruiting. 

Venables was widely regarded as one of the best recruiters for Dabo Swinney on Clemson's staff. He was responsible for getting players like Christian Wilkins (2015), Isaiah Simmons (2016), Trayvon Mullen (2016) and Bryan Bresee (2020), per Adam Friedman of Rivals.com.

The 50-year-old joined the Tigers coaching staff in 2012. He won the Broyles Award as the nation's top assistant coach in 2016. 

Prior to giving Clemson a verbal commitment, Everette also made official visits to Georgia, Florida State and North Carolina.