Stephen A. Smith Blasts Clemson After 51-10 LSU Loss

Q: After a humiliating 51-10 blowout, who will Dabo Swinney trust under center to save Clemson's season against Georgia Southern?

Christopher Vizzina remains the most likely starter, but Dabo Swinney has made clear the job is not settled and Tait Reynolds is very much in play against Georgia Southern. Swinney entered the LSU opener with Vizzina as QB1 and Reynolds as the backup, but the 51-10 collapse reopened the competition immediately. Vizzina struggled badly before being pulled late in the first half, finishing with modest yardage and a costly interception that was returned for a touchdown. Reynolds did not provide a major spark in relief, but his presence underscored that Clemson’s staff was already prepared to evaluate both quarterbacks in live action. After the game, Swinney said he did not know who would start next week and would need to study the tape before deciding. That matches what he said before the season: Vizzina was ahead, but not by much, and Reynolds had closed the gap during camp. Swinney had also signaled that Reynolds was likely to play early in the season because the competition was ongoing. Based on the available reporting, Clemson is still more likely to open against Georgia Southern with Vizzina, largely because of his experience and because he was the preseason frontrunner. But if he struggles again, Reynolds appears positioned to get meaningful snaps and could still force a change. In short, Swinney has not fully committed to either quarterback, though Vizzina remains the slight favorite entering the week.

2 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Sep 7

51-10 was the score that triggered Stephen A. Smith's broadside at Clemson on Monday's "First Take," where he said the Tigers should hide from campus after the beating by LSU.
That rout left Dabo Swinney openly unsure who should start at quarterback next Saturday, underscoring how badly Clemson struggled in all phases.
Georgia Southern visits Memorial Stadium for Clemson's home opener at 7:30 p.m. ET on ACC Network, where the Tigers are expected to be heavy favorites despite major cleanup work on both sides of the ball.
The reaction sharpens pressure on a program that entered the LSU game hoping for an upset but instead absorbed one of its most lopsided defeats of the season.