CLEMSON FOOTBALL

Clemson freshman running back Travis Etienne is holding steady at 7.7 yards per carry, which cracks the top-15 nationally.
Clemson freshman running back Travis Etienne is holding steady at 7.7 yards per carry, which cracks the top-15 nationally.

NCAA ranks: Clemson takes elite defense, efficient offense into championship games


by - Staff Writer -

The state championship on deck and an ACC title on the line after that, Clemson ranks in the top-25 nationally in 18 stats – up two categories after a 61-3 thumping of FCS-level Citadel.

The Clemson defense holds 10 top-15 rankings, led by its sack attack (2nd), scoring defense (3rd) and third down defense (5th).

The Tiger offense is led by its efficiency on fourth down (2nd) and third down (17th), as well as scoring touchdowns in the red zone (19th).

Kelly Bryant moved to No. 8 in the nation in completion percentage (66.2) with his 17-of-22 passing day against the Bulldogs.

Looking ahead to next week, the Gamecocks have largely arrived at 8-3 with discipline, holding top-25 ranks most prominent in turnovers and penalties: fewest penalty yards (3rd, 350), fewest penalty yards per game (3rd, 31.82), fewest penalties per game (9th, 4.18), fewest penalties (10th, 46), turnover margin (14th, 0.82), turnovers gained (20th, 21), scoring defense (21st, 19.6 PPG), net punting (21st, 40.6), kickoff returns (25th, 23.5), turnovers lost (25th, 12).

Among notable mismatches, South Carolina is 95th in third down defense (.424), and coming in at No. 104 in total offense (352.3) and No. 88 in scoring offense (25.4), the Gamecocks also rank 89th in red zone touchdown percentage (56.3) versus a Tiger defense in the top-10 in the nation (45.8).

Clemson top 25 national rankings

Sacks per game – 2 (3.55), fourth down offense – 2 (.833), scoring defense – 3 (13.9 PPG), third down defense – 5 (.276), team tackles for loss – 6 (8.5), total defense – 7 (290.2 YPG), red zone defense TD percentage – 7 (45.8), first downs defense – 11 (171), passing defense – 12 (173.6), pass efficiency defense – 12 (109.98), rushing defense – 14 (116.5), third down offense – 17 (.458), red zone TD percentage – 19 (71.4), turnovers lost – 21 (11), punt returns – 23 (11.2), scoring offense – 23 (35.3), red zone offense – 24 (.902), rushing offense – 25 (217.5).

Other key stats

Total offense – 26 (456.9), red zone defense – 34 (.792), turnover margin – 44 (0.27).

Top individual national ranks

QB Kelly Bryant – Completion percentage 8 (.662).

PR Ray Ray McCloud – Punt return average 11 (12.3).

RB Travis Etienne – Yards per carry 12 (7.7).

DE Austin Bryant – Tackles for loss per game 21 (1.3), sacks per game 23 (0.68).

DE Clelin Ferrell – Sacks per game 23 (0.68), tackles for loss per game 30 (1.27).

ACC team stat rankings

Total offense: 4 (Leader: Louisville, 560.4).

Total defense: 1.

Passing offense: 8, 239.5 (Leader: Louisville, 319.2).

Passing defense: 2 (Leader: Duke, 173.4).

Rushing offense 3 (Leader: Georgia Tech, 319.3).

Rushing defense: 1.

3rd down offense: 1.

3rd down defense: 2 (Leader: Virginia Tech, 25).

Red zone TD percentage: 2 (Leader: Georgia Tech, 71.4)

Red zone TD percentage defense: 2 (Leader: Miami, 40)

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

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