No. 20 Clemson leads Pitt 17-7 at halftime at Acrisure Stadium, fueled by Cade Klubnik’s strong performance and a resilient defensive effort despite injuries.

Klubnik has been sharp, completing 20 of 28 passes for 248 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 12.1 yards per completion. However, drops by T.J. Moore, Jake Briningstool, and Antonio Williams, along with a fumble, stalled early drives. The Tigers’ running game has been non-existent, with Phil Mafah limited to five yards on eight carries as the offensive line, already reshuffled due to an early injury to Elijah Thurmon, has allowed four sacks.

Defensively, Clemson has held Pitt to just 60 rushing yards, with 43 coming on one run by Desmond Reid. Backup quarterback Nate Yarnell has struggled, throwing for only 111 yards as Clemson’s defense notched four sacks and held Pitt to 1-of-6 on third downs. However, depth at linebacker is a concern after Sammy Brown’s ejection for targeting, leaving the team thin in the middle.

Freshman kicker Nolan Hauser capped the half with a 51-yard field goal, giving Clemson momentum as it heads into a critical second half.

This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Halftime Report: Clemson leads Pitt with stellar play from Cade Klubnik, Antonio Williams