Clemson Football: How does loss of Trevor Lawrence affect Tigers?

Clemson football hoped to ride Trevor Lawrence‘s arm to another shot at a national championship. What happens if Lawrence is lost for any length of time?

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A crazy week at quarterback for Clemson got even crazier. After Trevor Lawrence was named the starter for the Syracuse game, incumbent Kelly Bryant opted to preserve his season of eligibility and look into options for a transfer. That meant he was not in uniform for the Week 5 matchup against the Orange.

That could prove costly, after Lawrence left the game in the first half with Clemson trailing the Orange 13-7. Lawrence, trying to extend a play along the sideline, took a jarring hit to the head and shoulder that left him sitting on the sideline.

Lawrence is not expected to return to the game. That leaves redshirt freshman Chase Brice as the next man up for the Tigers. Prior to the game against Syracuse, Brice had thrown just eight passes at the college level, completing five to his receivers and one to the opposition. On those five completions, Brice gained 47 yards — while his one interception was returned 42 yards in the opposite direction.

After entering the game for Lawrence, Brice has thrown one incomplete pass before halftime. Dabo Swinney and his offensive staff seem prepared to lean on the backfield of Travis Etienne, Adam Choice, and Tavien Feaster for the rest of the game, at least if their game plan before halftime was any indication.

With a nine-point deficit at the intermission against visiting Syracuse, the Tigers need Brice to at least take care of the football, avoiding turnovers and hitting high-percentage throws. They need the backfield to step up and carry the load on offense, and the defense will need to get some stops on Eric Dungey and the Orange offense.

Clemson still has the firepower to claim the ACC title for a fourth straight season, but whether they can remain in the playoff hunt is an entirely different question. If Lawrence is out for any length of time, though, Brice will have to mature rapidly for Clemson to remain in the College Football Playoff hunt.