For moments, it looked like a corner had been turned. A resilient Clemson team, led by a quarterback finding his rhythm, traded blows with a tough SMU squad. But in the end, big plays and a brutal, clock-killing final drive from the Mustangs sent 78,669 fans home from Memorial Stadium disappointed, as the Tigers fell 35-24, dropping their record to a stunning 3-4.
It was a game of explosive plays and frustrating inconsistency. A shootout where one team made the critical plays in the fourth quarter, and the other was left searching for answers. Here is the good, the bad, and the ugly from a pivotal home loss.
## The Good: Christopher Vizzina's Coming of Age
In a losing effort, quarterback Christopher Vizzina delivered the best performance of his young career. The signal-caller was poised and aggressive, throwing for 317 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. His connection with receiver T.J. Moore was the engine of the offense. Moore had a monster day, hauling in five catches for 124 yards and two spectacular touchdowns, one from 32 yards out and another from 62.
Vizzina saved his most heroic moment for the fourth quarter. Facing a 4th-and-21, he connected with Tristan Smith for a 23-yard touchdown, pulling the Tigers within five points and breathing life back into the stadium. For a moment, it felt like a signature comeback was in the making, sparked by a quarterback who looked every bit the part of a future star.
## The Bad: The Anemic Rushing Attack
For all of Vizzina's heroics, the Clemson offense was completely one-dimensional. The running game was a non-factor, producing a paltry 35 net yards on 30 carries, for an abysmal average of just 1.2 yards per attempt. The team's leading rusher was Adam Randall, who managed only 29 yards on 10 carries. Vizzina himself, despite his passing prowess, ended with only 4 net yards on 15 attempts, having been sacked four times for a loss of 17 yards.
This inability to establish a ground threat put immense pressure on Vizzina and the passing game. It also hampered the team's ability to control the game, despite winning the time of possession. The offense managed just two rushing first downs all game.
## The Ugly: The Fourth Quarter Collapse
When Clemson needed a stop the most, the defense faltered. After Smith's touchdown made it 29-24, SMU got the ball back with 6:44 on the clock and systematically crushed the Tigers' hopes. The Mustangs engineered a soul-crushing 13-play, 75-yard drive that consumed 5:41 of game time, culminating in a 6-yard touchdown run that sealed the victory with just over a minute remaining.
The defense had no answer for SMU's explosive plays all afternoon. They surrendered a 70-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter and a 35-yard touchdown run in the third. Just as ugly was Clemson's inability to capitalize on a marathon 17-play, 65-yard drive at the end of the third quarter. After having a first-and-goal at the SMU 10-yard line, the Tigers were forced to settle for a 28-yard field goal—a massive missed opportunity that ultimately came back to haunt them.