CLEMSON FOOTBALL

Clelin Ferrell and Austin Bryant's Clemson D-line is rivaled best by an opponent they will see in early December.
Clelin Ferrell and Austin Bryant's Clemson D-line is rivaled best by an opponent they will see in early December.

NCAA ranks: ACC title opponents Clemson, Miami run 1-2 in sacks


by - Staff Writer -

A five-sack day against the Seminoles was good enough to put the Tigers back on top nationally in sacks per game (3.8).

The Clemson defense also ranks in the top-10 in tackles for loss (6th; 8.5 per game), scoring defense (7th; 15 PPG), total defense (8th; 297.6 YPG) and third down defense (9th; 28 percent).

Individually, Clelin Ferrell and Austin Bryant are tied for 16th in the nation in sacks per game (0.75), with Bryant up to 12th in TFLs a game (1.5).

Kelly Bryant improved to 12th nationally in completion percentage (65.3) and Travis Etienne moved up to 11th in yards per carry (7.7).

Around the ACC, the Tigers lead the league in total defense, rushing defense, third down offense and red zone touchdown percentage offense.

ACC Championship opponent Miami paces the conference in red zone percentage defense (40) and also ranks in the top-25 nationally in sacks (2nd; 3.67), tackles for loss (2nd; 8.8), turnover margin (2nd; 1.67), passes intercepted (3rd; 16), turnovers gained (4th; 24), pass efficiency defense (4th; 139.81), punt returns (7th; 15.7 YPR), turnovers lost (9th; 9), scoring defense (10th; 16.6 PPG), fourth down offense (15th, .667), red zone offense (19th; .917) and punt return defense (23rd; 4.25),

Clemson top 25 national rankings

Sacks per game – 1 (3.8), fourth down offense – 3 (.818), team tackles for loss – 6 (8.5), scoring defense – 7 (15 PPG), total defense – 8 (297.6 YPG), third down defense – 9 (.280), rushing defense – 11 (112.7), first downs defense – 14 (161), red zone defense TD percentage – 15 (47.8), third down offense – 17 (.458), red zone TD percentage – 19 (71.4), passing defense – 21 (184.9), punt returns – 17 (13.04), pass efficiency defense – 21 (112.16), rushing offense – 24 (220.9), turnovers lost – 25 (11).

Other key stats

Red zone offense – 30 (.886), red zone defense – 31 (.783), total offense – 33 (436.4), scoring offense – 38 (32.7), turnover margin – 58 (0.10).

Top individual national ranks

RB Travis Etienne – Yards per carry 11 (7.7).

DE Austin Bryant – Tackles for loss per game 12 (1.5), sacks per game 16 (0.75).

QB Kelly Bryant – Completion percentage 12 (65.3).

PR Ray Ray McCloud – Punt return average 13 (13.7).

DE Clelin Ferrell – Sacks per game 16 (0.75), tackles for loss per game 17 (1.4).

Clemson's ACC team stat rankings

Total offense: 6 (Leader: Louisville, 543.7).

Total defense: 1.

Passing offense: 8, 215.5 (Leader: Louisville, 319.5).

Passing defense: 3 (Leader: Virginia Tech, 174.9).

Rushing offense 3 (Leader: Georgia Tech, 324).

Rushing defense: 1.

3rd down offense: 1.

3rd down defense: 4 (Leader: Syracuse, 25.4).

Red zone TD percentage: 1.

Red zone TD percentage defense: 4 (Leader: Miami, 40)

(National and individual stats per NCAA and CFBStats.com)

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