How Cade Klubnik led Clemson football to ACC Championship after quarterback switch

CHARLOTTE – Clemson football's switch to a freshman quarterback Saturday sparked the Tigers to a 39-10 victory in the ACC championship against North Carolina at Bank of America Stadium.

And there was an igniter on defense, too.

Nate Wiggins of the Tigers had a 98-yard interception return for a touchdown, knocked down passes in the end zone on two different drives and also blocked a field goal. His TD was a game-sealer. It came in the third quarter with North Carolina down only 14 and having driven down to the 3-yard line.

Clemson (11-2) clinches a spot in the Orange Bowl to be played Dec. 30 (8 p.m., NBC) in Miami against an SEC opponent. The Tigers won the ACC championship for the seventh time in eight years. They had six straight until failing to make it to the game last season. North Carolina (9-4) has not won the ACC title since 1980 and was making its first appearance since 2015.

The Tigers made a change at quarterback, benching junior starter DJ Uiagalelei and going with freshman Cade Klubnik, who came in after their second series of the game and trailing, 7-0. Clemson's offense failed to get a first down with Uiagalelei but finished with more than 300 yards behind Klubnik. He completed 20 of 24 passes for 279 yards and a touchdown while also running for a TD.

"We knew we were going to put him in the third or fourth series," Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. "He went in and never came out."

BENCHED: Clemson football benches DJ Uiagalelei for Cade Klubnik in ACC championship game

RECAP: Clemson football score vs. UNC: Live updates from ACC championship game

Here are some other takeaways:

Cole Turner makes his first big-splash play

All season long, we've been told by the Clemson coaches that freshman wide receiver Cole Turner was going to be something special. They saved him for the last four games of the season so he could retain his redshirt eligibility. He came into the game with just one catch for 9 yards, having taken just eight snaps in two games. Turner, the younger brother of former Clemson safety Nolan Turner, caught a 68-yard pass from Klubnik, stumbling to a stop just inside the 1. Turner later added a 29-yarder and became Clemson's first 100-yard receiver of the season. The Tigers have a bright young trio of rookie wideouts in Turner, Antonio Williams and Adam Randall.

Clemson kicker shows why he's all-time great

B.T. Potter made a veteran move after North Carolina called timeout before the snap for a 52-yard field goal try at the end of the first half. The whistle blew plenty early, but Potter took a practice shot. It had enough distance but was barely wide right. So, on the real kick, he put it straight through and Clemson went to the locker room with a 24-10 lead. Potter set an ACC championship game record for longest field goal, matching a career-best, and became the first player in league history with 100 points in four different seasons.

Dabo Swinney's son scores on trick play

Thanks, Pop. Clemson graduate student Drew Swinney, Dabo's son, scored his first career points on a trick play in the third quarter. Clemson was lined up for the extra point following the touchdown by Wiggins. Drew, the holder, took the snap and ran straight into the end zone. The wide receiver has six catches for 52 yards this season. It's his first year as the starting holder.

Todd Shanesy covers Clemson athletics for the USA TODAY Network.

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Cade Klubnik, Clemson football win ACC Championship after QB switch