UPS
Defense kept Clemson alive
For most of the afternoon, Clemson’s defense dictated the pace. Penn State managed just six points through three quarters, with the Tigers limiting explosive plays and forcing field goals after extended drives. The effort kept the game within one possession deep into the fourth quarter and gave Clemson repeated chances to flip momentum.
Adam Randall’s response drive
After Penn State struck with a long touchdown to open the fourth quarter, Clemson answered. Randall capped a 10-play, 65-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run, cutting the deficit to 15–10 and briefly shifting energy back to the Tigers’ sideline.
Clean football in tough conditions
In freezing temperatures and swirling wind, Clemson avoided turnovers and costly penalties. The Tigers did not beat themselves with mistakes — a necessary baseline in bowl games, even if it ultimately wasn’t enough.
DOWNS
Fourth-quarter breakdown
A tight, defensive game unraveled quickly. Penn State scored 16 points in the final quarter, including two touchdown passes that erased any margin Clemson had built with defensive discipline. One explosive play changed the game, and Clemson never fully recovered.
Offensive stagnation
Clemson finished with just one touchdown and struggled to sustain drives. The Tigers averaged 3.6 yards per play and converted only five of 15 third downs. Red-zone chances were limited, and when they came, Clemson failed to maximize them.
Protection issues at key moments
Cade Klubnik was sacked four times, with pressure arriving on critical downs. Several promising possessions stalled due to negative plays, putting Clemson behind the chains and forcing punts in a game defined by field position.
No explosive answers
When Penn State landed its knockout blow with a 73-yard touchdown pass, Clemson had no quick-strike response. The Tigers’ inability to generate a matching explosive play underscored the offensive gap in the game’s decisive moments.