WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- The Clemson Tigers, favored in the preseason to win the Atlantic Coast Conference football championship, have seen their title hopes all but dashed after tonight's 12-7 loss to the homestanding Wake Forest Demon Deacons.

The Tigers (3-3, 1-2 ACC) had beaten the Demon Deacons in both meetings since Wake Forest's Jim Grobe-led resurgence began, rallying from 17-3 down in the final quarter here two years ago to win 27-17 and following up with a 44-10 rout at home last season. And they looked ready to do it to the Demon Deacons again, scoring on a touchdown catch by Jacoby Ford for a 7-3 lead after Wake Forest had controlled the game to that point.

But the Tigers, who struggled to find much room against the Demon Deacons' hard-hitting defense all game long, couldn't manage anything else. Drive after drive ended with Cullen Harper throwing incompletions under pressure, while the vaunted running game led by Spiller and James Davis managed just 21 yards on 23 carries for the night.

Clemson's touchdown drive spanned 70 yards over eight plays. Their longest drive of the game other than that went just 39 yards. That was enough offense as long as the Tigers' defense held the Demon Deacons out of the end zone.

But Wake's Riley Skinner connected with D.J. Boldin for the go-ahead 7-yard score with 5:28 to play, and after that, Clemson's offense could not mount a response.

It didn't help that the Tigers played without Spiller for the second half. He appeared to injure his left leg on a 10-yard gain midway through the second quarter. He had an ice pack on his left knee and covered his head with a towel, finishing with 10 yards on two carries.

Davis finished with 25 yards on 12 carries.