Finebaum: A Clemson loss no longer moves anyone after 20-16 home defeat to Virginia Tech

Clemson's 20-16 home loss to Virginia Tech has drawn a blunt verdict from ESPN's Paul Finebaum. He says a Dabo Swinney defeat used to land like a Nick Saban defeat and now barely registers. Speaking on The Matt Barrie Show, as HEAVY reported via Yahoo Sports, Finebaum said these days people just wonder, "was that three? Was that four? And who cares?"

The loss was the third of the season for Clemson, which is now 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the ACC. The earlier two came in blowouts against ranked teams, 51-10 at LSU and 41-13 against Miami. Those were easier to explain away. Losing at Memorial Stadium to a Virginia Tech team in its first year under James Franklin is harder to explain. HEAVY lays out the contrast: Clemson went 79-7 from 2015 through 2020, with six straight ACC titles, six playoff trips and two national championships. Counting last year's 7-6 finish, the Tigers have lost 23 games since 2021, with one playoff appearance in that stretch.

The game swung late. According to Clemson Athletics, freshman quarterback Tait Reynolds ran for a 16-yard touchdown in the third quarter that gave Clemson its first lead, and Nolan Hauser made all three of his field goals. The Tigers led 16-10 going into the fourth. Virginia Tech then put together an 11-play drive that ended with Ethan Grunkemeyer's 5-yard touchdown pass to tight end Luke Reynolds with 1:44 left. On Clemson's last possession, a long completion to Bryant Wesco Jr. that looked like a third-down conversion was overturned on review. Reynolds was then sacked on fourth down. WSLS credited that sack to Malachi Williams and noted the result made the Hokies bowl eligible at 6-2. It was also their first win over Clemson since 2007.

Clemson's defense did its part, holding Virginia Tech to 234 total yards and 70 rushing yards while recording six sacks. The offense, again, could not finish. Reynolds threw for 153 yards and ran for 63.

What it means at Florida State

The Tigers have been streaky. They opened with the loss at LSU, won three straight, were routed by Miami, beat Charleston Southern 37-0, and then fell to Virginia Tech. Through seven games they have scored 150 points and allowed 149. They have topped 28 points only once, and that was against an FCS opponent. Their four wins came against North Carolina, California, Georgia Southern and Charleston Southern. Their three losses are to the three best teams they have played.

Saturday's trip to Tallahassee (ACC Network) will be Clemson's first road game since the win at California in early October. A third ACC loss would leave little room in the conference race.

On this site's board, which tracks 12 venues, Florida State is favored. Novig lists the Seminoles at -212 on the moneyline, and the best price anywhere is Polymarket's -209. Clemson is +199 on Novig. The spread is where the venues differ most. Novig has Florida State -6.5 at +104, while BetMGM has the Seminoles at -5.5 for -110, a full point apart. The total sits at 49.5 on Novig and Pinnacle and at 50.5 on FanDuel. Sportsbook hold across the markets ranges from about 3.7% to 6.9%.

Virginia Tech has an open date before visiting No. 19 SMU on Friday, November 6.