CLEMSON — James Franklin faced his biggest decision of the night.
Clemson football led Virginia Tech by three with under two minutes left, and the Hokies had a fourth-and-1 from the Tigers' 5-yard line. Franklin pondered sending John Love out to attempt a chip-shot field goal, tie the game, and potentially send it to overtime.
But Franklin didn't want to play for the tie. He wanted to play for the win. Franklin sent Virginia Tech's offense back out to go for it, and Ethan Grunkemeyer found tight end Luke Reynolds wide open in the end zone for the game-winning touchdown in a 20-16 defeat for Clemson (4-3, 2-2 ACC) on Oct. 24.
Tigers coach Dabo Swinney said he wasn't surprised that Franklin went for it, and called it a "gutsy" decision.
For Franklin, that fourth-and-1 play was the best chance the Hokies (6-2, 3-2) had to win.
"I just felt like the momentum, except for that last drive, was probably on their side," Franklin said. "You're on the road in a tough environment. It's fourth-and-1.
"Just felt like fourth-and-1 is as good of a situation that we were going to get, and then we called a play that we've had a lot of success with."
Clemson safety Corey Myrick wasn't surprised either, saying that the Hokies being near the end zone gave him the thought that they would go for it.
"Not really, because we was kind of deep down in our territory," Myrick said. "We should have ... just stayed disciplined and be ready for anything."
Franklin would have been questioned had the call failed but it didn't. Virginia Tech got a stop on Clemson's final drive when Mylachi Williams sacked Tigers quarterback Tait Reynolds on 4th-and-9 from Clemson's 49-yard line.
More: Questions about Tait Reynolds, Clemson passing offense continue in loss to Virginia Tech
How did Virginia Tech beat Clemson with game-winning touchdown?
The Hokies called a play that was similar to one they ran with 1:24 left in the second quarter.
Virginia Tech was near the same spot, just 1 yard back at Clemson's 6-yard line. Reynolds went in motion to the left, Grunkemeyer faked a handoff and found Reynolds wide open in the flat for the touchdown.
Too smooth 😮💨#LetsGoHokies | 📺 @espnhttps://t.co/1t3PrrEyTUpic.twitter.com/uKE9ZRFRPx
— Virginia Tech Football (@HokiesFB) October 25, 2026
The Hokies won the game in almost the same way. A different tight end went in motion, but to the right this time. Reynolds ran a route to the left side of the field, but this time to the back of the end zone instead of to the flat. The result was the same: Virginia Tech caught the Tigers napping and scored.
What a drive 😮💨
— Virginia Tech Football (@HokiesFB) October 25, 2026
📊 11 plays, 69 yards, 4:45 TOP#LetsGoHokies | 📺 @espnhttps://t.co/mBYSEDQ1nwpic.twitter.com/00h53tcnPK
Swinney said he was disappointed that Reynolds beat Clemson's defense twice on similar plays.
"That's the two biggest disappointments we had was that (Reynolds) had two touchdowns," Swinney said. "We had one complete bust ... but that one, we were just right there. We just didn't have enough. We just kind of took our eyes off of him. (Reynolds) got a little behind us."
Nick Coppola covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA Today Network. Email him at ncoppola@usatodayco.com, follow him on X @Nick_Coppola__ and like his Facebook page at Nick Coppola, Clemson Sports.
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: What went wrong for Clemson, Dabo Swinney on James Franklin's 'gutsy' 4th-down TD call