Clemson Football: 3 takeaways from ACC title win over Pittsburgh

3. Travis Etienne is the glue that holds together the Clemson offense

With a young quarterback playing in his first ACC championship game, Clemson’s offense benefitted from the stewardship of running back Travis Etienne. Throughout the 2018 season, Etienne has been the glue that holds the Clemson offense together and keeps the machine running smoothly. He kept up that role on Saturday night in the big win over Pittsburgh.

Etienne busted off a 75-yard run on the first play of the game from scrimmage, putting the Tigers up mere seconds after the opening kickoff in Charlotte. Over the course of the first half, Etienne carried nine times for 143 yards and two scores. Most backs would celebrate that kind of output over the course of an entire game, but Etienne managed it in just 30 minutes of gameplay.

By that point the Tigers were up 28-10, and Etienne was able to ease off in the second half as other Clemson stars were empowered to take over on offense. But Etienne offered the steadying productivity that bolsters the confidence of his teammates.

Etienne finished the day with 156 yards on the ground on a dozen carries, as he averaged 13 yards per carry. With his work largely done after halftime, he was able to sit back and celebrate another incredible night for the Tigers.