Clemson Defense Ranked 5th In Nation

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Clemson’s defense is grabbing the headlines for the 21st-ranked Tigers, and not for the points it allows in the team’s biggest games. The group has given up just 30 points in the past three games for Clemson (5-2, 4-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) and made game-saving stops the last two weeks to beat Louisville and Boston College. Clemson’s defense was largely a college football punchline the past three years in losses like its 70-33 embarrassment to West Virginia in the 2011 Orange Bowl or a 51-14 Death Valley debacle last year to Florida State. This unit, though, ranks fifth nationally in total defense and No. 1 in preventing third down conversions. Clemson (5-2, 4-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) tries to keep that edge against Syracuse (3-4, 1-1) on Saturday night.