Observations during Clemson football's struggle vs. Tennessee in Orange Bowl

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Clemson football's season finished with a disappointing loss to No. 6 Tennessee in the Orange Bowl on Friday night.

The game marked the first start for freshman quarterback Cade Klubnik in place of DJ Uiagalelei, whose up-and-down Clemson career ended when he entered the transfer portal after losing the job in the ACC Championship game.

Klubnik, the No. 1-rated dual-threat quarterback prospect a year ago, showed why he got that ranking during the game. He also showed what it's like to be a freshman quarterback.

Klubnik completed 30 of an incredible 54 passes for 320 yards, but he threw two interceptions on badly forced passes. He had trouble recognizing and escaping blitzes, and he often took off running even when the pressure wasn't there.

He'll get better. And he'll be back in 2023. And he'll learn a lot from his Orange Bowl experience.

Here are observations as the game unfolded.

INJURY ON DEFENSE:Clemson football cornerback Sheridan Jones to miss Orange Bowl vs. Tennessee

DEEPER LOOK:Clemson football vs. Tennessee: Scouting report and score prediction

A LOOK AT CADE:5 things you may not know about Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik

11:54 p.m. | Clemson football's Cade Klubnik throws another interception to snuff Tigers' last Orange Bowl drive

After driving Clemson football on a crisp, 61-yard drive in 1:25, Cade Klubnik made another freshman mistake.

With the Tigers at the Tennessee 15 and a first-and-10, Klubnik forced a pass into the middle of the end zone -- and the middle of the Vols' defense. The pass was intercepted, and Tennessee ran out the clock.

Final: No. 6 Tennessee 31, No. 7 Clemson 14.

11:43 p.m. | Tennessee puts the clincher on the Orange Bowl against Clemson football

Given great field position, Tennessee took advantage to put the Orange Bowl game away.

The Vols used time-consuming runs to move from the Clemson 38 to the 15 in six plays. Chase McGrath then kicked a 32-yard field goal to the Vols a three-scored lead with barely three minutes remaining.

4Q: No. 6 Tennessee 31, No. 7 Clemson 14, 3:07.

11:30 p.m. | Cade Klubnik makes another huge mistake as Clemson football's Orange Bowl hopes dwindle

With Clemson football needing two scores, Dabo Swinney decided to go for a first down on a fourth-and-8 play from its 33.

In an empty backfield, Cade Klubnik read a blitz, backpedaled and and sprinted backward and to the right -- a tendency when pressured -- and then leapt into the air as he tried to complete the pass.

Tennessee's Tamarion McDonald outjumped a group of Vols defenders and Clemson receivers to intercept the pass at the Clemson 49

4Q: No. 6 Tennessee 28, No. 7 Clemson 14, 7:37.

11:25 p.m. | Clemson football gives up another big play to Tennessee

After Clemson scored a touchdown and two-point conversion to pull seven points behind, Tennessee stole the Tigers' momentum with another quick-strike touchdown.

Joe Milton threw a 46-yard touchdown pass to Ramel Keyton that gave the Vols a two-touchdown lead with time running out for the Tigers.

4Q: No. 6 Tennessee 28, No. 7 Clemson 14, 8:34.

11:16 p.m. | Clemson football finds the end zone ... finally

On its 10th drive into Tennessee territory, the Clemson offense finally made it into the end zone.

The Tigers drove 71 yards on 12 plays -- a mixture of short passes by Cade Klubnik and between-the-tackles runs by Will Shipley -- to score. Klubnik scored on a 4-yard run, and Shipley then scored a two-point conversion run as Clemson closed to one touchdown behind.

4Q: No. 6 Tennessee 21, No. 7 Clemson 14, 10:01.

11:01 p.m. | Clemson football unable to to cash in on offense again, and the Tigers pay

If Clemson football loses to Tennessee in the Orange Bowl, the finger has to be pointed at the offense's inability to finish drives.

The Tigers have had nine drives into Tennessee territory and after three quarters have six points. And are falling farther behind.

Clemson was stopped one yard short on a fourth-and-2 play at the Vols' 31, turning the ball over.

It took Tennessee four plays to go 70 yards, the big play being a 42-yard run by Jaylen Wright to the Tigers' 19. Two plays later, Joe Milton threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Squirrel White.

3Q: No. 6 Tennessee 21, No. 7 Clemson 6, 0:05.

10:50 p.m. | Tennessee football punts ... again

Clemson football's defense has played well against one of the nation's top offenses, albeit one without its starting quarterback and its two best receivers.

When Paxton Brooks punted with 5:52 left in the third quarter, it was his seventh punt of the Orange Bowl, the most punts by the Volunteers this season.

Tennessee has 212 yards total offense and is 2-for-9 on third down.

10:46 p.m. | Clemson football's K.J. Henry leaves with injury

Clemson's defense suffered a major loss midway through the third quarter when defensive end K.J. Henry fell to the ground while pursuing Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton.

Trainers immediately rushed to the field, and he was assisted off the field.

10:31 p.m. | Cade Klubnik, Clemson football open second half with drive, score

It wasn't the touchdown that Clemson football really needed, but the Tigers opened the second half with a solid drive and the strongest kick by BT Potter yet tonight.

Clemson focused on its rushing game and Will Shipley, who had only five touches in the first half. The Tigers rushed six times for 36 yards, and Klubnik completed two short passes for 9 yards.

The drive bogged down at Tennessee's 23, and Potter -- who badly missed three attempts and barely made another in the first half -- drilled a 40-yard kick through the uprights.

All in all, a positive drive to open the second half.

3Q: No. 6 Tennessee 14, No. 7 Clemson 6, 10:57.

9:59 p.m. | Clemson football's Cade Klubnik getting education in first half of the Orange Bowl

Cade Klubnik was the MVP of the ACC Championship Game after coming in relief and directing a rout of North Carolina.

With three weeks to prepare for Klubnik, Tennessee is giving the Tigers' freshman quarterback a college football education in his first start.

At halftime of the Orange Bowl, Klubnik's stats aren't bad -- 16-for-29 passing for 201 yards and 32 more yards rushing, but the Tigers have managed only a field goal. That's despite finishing all seven of its possessions in Volunteers territory.

Tennessee has done what you would expect against a freshman making his first start -- a mixture of blitzes. Klubnik has been sacked three times and tackled for a loss on another run. He has rushed some passes and held on to the ball too long on others.

And on the final drive of the half, with time running out and Clemson with no timeouts, Klubnik rushed twice instead of passing. He got only to the Vols' 11 as time expired.

It is the second time Clemson has failed to score a touchdown in the first half. The other time was in the lopsided loss to Notre Dame.

Halftime: No. 6 Tennessee 14, No. 7 Clemson 3.

9:49 p.m. | Clemson football, BT Potter put points on the board

The fourth time was a charm. Barely.

After another trip into the red zone, Clemson football had to settle for a field goal attempt by BT Potter, who was 0-for-3.

This time, Potter converted from 31 yards. The ball barely made it inside the left upright.

Clemson will take it.

2Q: No. 6 Tennessee 14, No. 7 Clemson 3, 5:11.

9:28 p.m. | Clemson football gives up big strike, falls behind by two TDs

Clemson gave up a 50-yard pass and fell behind by another touchdown.

Joe Milton threw to Squirrel White to the Tigers' 2, and on the next play Jabari Smalls scored on a run up the middle.

2Q: No. 6 Tennessee 14, No. 7 Clemson 0, 9:03.

9:18 p.m. | Clemson football, BT Potter come up empty again

Clemson remains without a score after a third consecutive miss by usually reliable kicker BT Potter. After missing twice to the right, Potter was wide left from 42 yards.

The 41-yard drive also lost some steam on another failed trick play. After the Tigers moved into the red zone, tight end Davis Allen took a lateral and threw to the end zone to Jake Briningstool, who was open by a couple of yards. Allen badly overthrew Briningstool.

On the next play, Cade Klubnik was tackled for a 3-yard loss. He then threw incomplete on a rushed third-down pass, forcing the field goal attempt.

2Q: No. 6 Tennessee 7, No. 7 Clemson 0, 10:15.

9:06 p.m. | Clemson football's BT Potter officially struggling

Clemson's B.T. Potter, regarded one of the top distance kickers in FBS, is having an off night.

Potter missed a 49-yard field goal attempt to the right early in the second quarter -- it was never close -- as the Tigers came up empty on a nine-play, 48-yard drive.

On the previous Clemson possession, Potter missed from 55 yards, also badly to the right.

8:54 p.m. | Clemson football misses a long-shot scoring chance

Clemson gave its special teams a second chance for points, but it came up empty again.

The Tigers asked B.T. Potter to attempt a 55-yard field goal, which would have been a career long, though he has the leg strength to convert from beyond 50.

This kick, however, was far to the right of the upright.

1Q: No. 6 Tennessee 7, No. 7 Clemson 0, 3:05.

8:42 p.m. | Clemson football falls behind Tennessee in Orange Bowl

Tennessee's up-tempo and strong passing produced the Orange Bowl's first points.

Joe Milton, starting in place of injured All-Southeastern Conference quarterback Hendon Hooker, led the Vols on a 75-yard drive that he finished with a 16-yard touchdown pass to Bru McCoy.

Milton was 4-for-4 for 50 yards and rushed four times for 12 yards, including an 8-yard gain that converted a first down.

1Q: No. 6 Tennessee 7, No. 7 Clemson 0, 5:17.

8:33 p.m. | Injuries strike Tennessee offensive line

Keep an eye on Clemson's pass rush. During Tennessee's second series, both of its starting guards left with injuries. The Vols also were called twice for holding, but they overcame the first penalty , and the second was offset by an unsportsmanlike conduct against Clemson's Ruke Orhorhoro.

According to ESPN, the linemen returned after receiving eyedrops from the training staff.

8:27 p.m. | Clemson football gambles, misses scoring opportunity after impressive Cade Klubnik-led drive

Cade Klubnik led an impressive first drive for the Clemson offense, but it went for naught when a trick play failed.

The Tigers faced a fourth-and-4 at Tennessee's 27 and sent in the field-goal kicking team with B.T. Potter. But holder Drew Swinney kept the snap and tried a run to the left side. The Vols tackled him after a 2-yard gain and took possession

Klubnik was 3-for-4 for 54 yards, including a 33-yard completion to fellow freshman Cole Turner. That gain came the play after Klubnik lost 8 yards on a sack.

1Q: No. 7 Clemson 0, No. 6 Tennessee 0, 9:18.

8:19 p.m. | Clemson football star defensive tackle Bryan Bresee injured during game's third play

Bryan Bresee, whose season has been a struggle, left the field after the game's third play with an apparent lower body injury. He left without a limp but had Clemson personnel at each arm.

Bresee, projected to be a first-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, lost his sister Ella to cancer in September and battled illness and injury since.

Bresee returned on the next series and nearly got a sack of Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton on the third play.

7:06 p.m. | Clemson football to be without defensive starter in Orange Bowl vs. Tennessee

Clemson football announced that cornerback Sheridan Jones is not expected to be available tonight.

Jones, a graduate senior, was listed as an "or" starter with Andrew Mukuba at the cornerback position. Mukuba also is listed as the starting strong safety.

If Mukuba starts at corner, expect R.J. MIckens to start at strong safety.

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This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Observations from Clemson football's loss to Tennessee in Orange Bowl