In a season defined by disappointment, the Clemson Tigers (4-5, 3-4) finally got to celebrate. In a gritty, chaotic road battle, Clemson stunned Louisville 20-19 to keep its bowl hopes alive.
It wasn't pretty. In fact, parts of it were downright ugly. But for a team desperate for a win, it was beautiful. Here are the 'Ups & Downs' from a wild Friday night.
⬆️ UP: Adam Randall, The Entire Offense
Adam Randall put the team on his back. In a game where every yard felt like a fistfight, Randall was the Tigers' unstoppable force. He finished with 105 rushing yards and two crucial touchdowns on 15 carries. His 46-yard dash in the fourth quarter set up his own 1-yard, game-winning touchdown plunge. Before that, he broke the game open with a 25-yard touchdown run. Simply put, Clemson doesn't win this game without him.
⬇️ DOWN: Third Down Futility
This was statistically one of the worst third-down performances you will ever see from a winning team. The Tigers were an abysmal 1-for-13 (7.7%) on third-down conversions. This staggering inability to extend drives put the defense in difficult positions all night and forced the offense to rely on explosive plays or fourth-down gambles to move the ball.
⬆️ UP: Fourth Down Gambles
When you can't convert on third down, you have to make it up on fourth. The Tigers did exactly that, going 2-for-4 in high-leverage situations. The most critical conversion came on the game-winning drive, when A. Randall punched it in from the 1-yard line on 4th-and-Goal. That single play was the difference between a heartbreaking loss and a season-saving win.
⬇️ DOWN: The Botched Punt
With 2:31 left and a 20-19 lead, Clemson faced a 4th-and-6. The drive ended in disaster, but not by design. On the punt attempt, a short snap forced punter Jack Smith to rush the ball , and he was tackled for a 13-yard loss. The play was a complete turnover on downs , giving Louisville the ball in prime field-goal range at the Clemson 23-yard line.
⬆️ UP: N. Hauser's Perfect Night
In a game decided by one point and missed kicks, Clemson's kicker was perfect. Hauser went 2-for-2 on field goals and 2-for-2 on extra points. He drilled a 27-yarder to open the scoring and, more impressively, nailed a 48-yard field goal in the third quarter to keep the Tigers within striking distance. His four kicks provided 8 crucial points, every single one of them needed.
⬆️ UP: Sammy Brown and the Bending Defense
The defense spent most of the night on the field but made stops when it counted. Linebacker Sammy Brown was a monster, leading the team with 11 total tackles (4 solo, 7 assist) and the team's only sack. The unit as a whole forced a crucial fumble , which the offense converted into a touchdown. Despite giving up 385 total yards , they held Louisville to just one offensive touchdown and forced two missed field goals in the fourth quarter to seal the victory.