Looking Forward

TAMPA, Fla. -- As expected, there were severe bowl-placement consequences for the loser of the ACC title game.

See: Christmas in Nashville.

Clemson accepted a bowl bid Sunday to play Kentucky (7-5, 3-5 SEC) in the Music City Bowl at 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 27. It's the ACC's No. 5 bowl.

"There's politics in everything, that's just part of it," Swinney said Sunday. "We had the opportunity to do something about it (Saturday) night and we didn't take care of business."

Clemson's loss to Georgia Tech on Saturday prevented the Tigers from advancing to their first major bowl since appearing in the 1982 Orange Bowl. For a variety of reasons, the ACC's next three bowls elected to pass on the Tigers.

The Chick-fil-A Bowl, the ACC's No. 2 postseason game, sent its invitation to Virginia Tech, which is ranked and has one more win than Clemson.

Next in line was the Gator Bowl, which elected to bypass Clemson for the 6-6 Seminoles because of the fanfare and interest that will surround Bobby Bowden's final game as the

Florida State head coach.

The ACC's No. 4 bowl, the Champs Sports Bowl based in Orlando, selected Miami.

It concluded a considerable fall for Clemson. Two weeks ago, Swinney's team entered Columbia with a six-game win streak and the Chick-fil-A Bowl as fall-back option.

"We have no one to blame but ourselves," Swinney said.

Most of the blame for Clemson's two-game losing streak and bowl-standing collapse can be placed on the defense.

Clemson didn't force a punt Saturday as Georgia Tech rushed for 333 yards and gashed the Tigers time after time on the perimeter. Though the Yellow Jackets' scheme is difficult to defend, South Carolina also hurt Clemson on the ground, producing a Steve Spurrier-era best single-game rushing total (223) against a power-conference opponent.

Swinney said personnel changes could be made during the interlude.

He praised the play of the defensive front, meaning some of the linebackers and secondary could be playing for starting positions in Nashville.

"A couple of guys are not playing well at all," Swinney said. "It became a perimeter game and we didn't get off blocks outside, we didn't play cut blocks well. We didn't create any turnovers … on the first play (Crezdon Butler) was supposed to go to the pitch man and blow it up, instead (Butler) went on the quarterback." Butler also gave up a 70-yard gain on third-and-10 when matched up with Demaryius Thomas.

Swinney was also asked about the challenge of refocusing the Tigers, who clearly had greater ambitions than playing in the Music City Bowl.

The Tigers faced a similar situation in 2006, the last time they played in the Music City Bowl, also facing Kentucky. The Wildcats beat Clemson, 28-20.

"Those that aren't excited, I'll make sure they are on sideline, not in the game," Swinney said. "We are excited to be in a bowl ... I promise you we'll be ready to play."

--Clemson guard Mason Cloy broke his left leg Saturday, an injury that will require surgery. The sophomore will not be available for spring practice.