Clemson football: Observations during the Tigers' crushing loss to unranked Notre Dame
Notre Dame put Clemson’s College Football Playoff hopes in peril Saturday night, punishing the Tigers with a bruising rushing game, opportunistic defense and a special teams touchdown.
The Tigers fell to unranked Notre Dame 35-14 on the road.
It’s now up to the Tigers (8-1) – who on Tuesday were ranked No. 4 in the initial CFP rankings -- to focus on winning their remaining games and hope other highly ranked teams also stumble. For the Fighting Irish (6-3), the victory could launch them into the national rankings.
Here’s what the night looked like:
Story's beginning:Clemson football's DJ Uiagalelei returns to Notre Dame, where he burned the Irish and expectations soared
Faith in Klubnik:Could freshman Cade Klubnik lead Clemson football to win at Notre Dame if necessary?
Challenges ahead:Here's what concerns Clemson football coordinators about facing Notre Dame
10:40 p.m. | Clemson football gets a garbage-time touchdown
Scoring on its second consecutive drive, Clemson made the score a little closer, but not much to mitigate the dominance of Notre Dame.
The Tigers moved 75 yards in 10 plays and scored on DJ Uiagalelei's 4-yard pass to Joseph Ngata.
4Q: Notre Dame 35, No. 4 Clemson 14, 1:35.
10:28 p.m. | Notre Dame ices its victory against Clemson football
Notre Dame responded to Clemson's touchdown by resuming its punishing run game up the middle against Clemson's NFL-prospect-filled line, moving 75 yards on 11 plays -- 10 rushes for 58 of the yards -- and scoring on a 17-yard pass from Drew Pyne to tight end Mike Mayer.
All that is left is to wait to see if the Irish, who will be 6-3, move into the Top 25s. And how far Clemson will fall.
4Q: Notre Dame 35, No. 4 Clemson 7, 4:16.
10:16 p.m. | Clemson football breaks through, but it's likely way too late
Clemson and DJ Uiagalelei responded to the interception return for a touchdown with the Tigers' best drive of the game.
Uiagalelei completed passes of 14 yards to Adam Randall and 22 yards to Davis Allen and overcame a 7-yard sack that forced a third-and-9 with a 21-yard scramble to Notre Dame's 1.
Will Shipley scored on the next play.
4Q: Notre Dame 28, No. 4 Clemson 7, 10:14.
10:09 p.m. | DJ Uiagalelei returns to huddle, gets pick-sixed
After Cade Klubnik made a huge mistake two plays after entering the game -- throwing an interception -- Clemson turned back to DJ Uiagalelei with a 21-0 deficit to overcome in the fourth quarter.
Uiagalelei's moved the Tigers 58 yards -- helped by two pass interference penalties -- but then threw an interception of his own. Benjamin Morrison, who made the interception on Klubnik's pass, picked off this one, too, returning it 96 yards for a touchdown.
4Q: Notre Dame 28, No. 4 Clemson 0, 12:58.
9:55 p.m. | Clemson football's hole looks too deep
After freshman Cade Klubnik's first pass at Notre Dame was intercepted, the Fighting Irish cashed in and likely put the game out of reach for Clemson.
Notre Dame had only 14 yards to drive, and it did, helped a bit by a personal foul penalty on Tyler Venables on an out-of-bounds hit on Irish quarterback Drew Pyne that gave Notre Dame first-and-goal from the 2.
Audric Estime then ran inside the left tackle for the touchdown.
4Q: Notre Dame 21, No. 4 Clemson 0, 14:37.
9:48 p.m. | Cade Klubnik enters for Clemson football, throws interception
For the second consecutive game, Clemson turned to freshman quarterback Cade Klubnik after DJ Uiagalelei was unable to generate consistent offense.
This time, Klubnik got off to a rough start. On second down from the Clemson 9, he threw under duress toward Joseph Ngata, but Notre Dame's Benjamin Morrison read the play, broke on the ball and intercepted.
The Irish have the ball at the Tigers' 14.
9:05 p.m. | Notre Dame in control against Clemson football at halftime
Statistics don't always tell the story, but they do in the first half of the Clemson-Notre Dame game.
The teams are even in passing with 41 yards, though Clemson had 0 yards in the second quarter.
Clemson has 30 yards rushing despite Will Shipley's 52 yards on seven carries. The Tigers' numbers have been hurt by two sacks of DJ Uiagalelei, both when he held the ball too long, and a 7-yard loss on an overhand lateral he threw badly behind Shipley.
Notre Dame, meanwhile, has 122 yards rushing on 23 attempts. They had 10 rushes for 67 yards on their go-ahead drive late in the second quarter. That included two rushes for 15 yards by quarterback Drew Pyne, including his first-ever touchdown.
8:45 p.m. | Notre Dame establishes its rushing game against Clemson football, widens lead
Notre Dame totaled 15 yards on its first six carries with a longest gain of 4 yards.
Since then, the Fighting Irish have 17 rushes for 106 yards, including gains of 9, 9, 7, 13, 10 and 11 yards. Almost every carry has been between the tackles, though some have benefitted from a three-tight end set.
The result? An 11-play, 78-yard drive for a touchdown. Ten of the plays were rushing plays, including a 5-yard touchdown run by quarterback Drew Pyne.
2Q: Notre Dame 14, No. 4 Clemson 0, 0:38.
8:28 p.m. | Special teams edge going to Notre Dame
Notre Dame took the lead on a blocked punt return for a touchdown in the first quarter, and its punt coverage team set up great field position in the second, pressuring Aidan Swanson in a 24-yard punt that gave the Irish the ball at their 47.
Notre Dame drove to the Clemson 24, where the defense stiffened -- including a pass breakup by Tyler Davis on third down -- and Irish kicker Blake Grupe missed a 42-yard field goal. Which was not a great special teams play.
8:21 p.m. | Clemson football quarterback DJ Uiagalelei showing signs of struggle again
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney insisted he wasn't concerned about quarteback DJ Uiagalelei's struggles against Syracuse, which led to a switch to freshman Cade Klubnik in the 27-21 victory.
8:14 p.m. | Notre Dame leads Clemson football after quick first quarter
Uiagalelei doesn't look sharp against Notre Dame. He is 9-for-11 passing, but 0-for-2 on passes downfield. He also held the ball too long on a third-and-7 and was sacked. Clemson is 0-for-4 on third down.
Notre Dame has the lead after one quarter, scoring on a blocked punt.
Offensively, neither team has established itself. Clemson's DJ Uiagaglelei is 9-for-10 but for only 41 yards, and the Tigers have 15 yards rushing, 13 on a Will Shipley run.
Notre Dame has 28 yards rushing and 24 yards passing.
End of 1Q: Notre Dame 7, No. 4 Clemson 0.
8:08 p.m. | Clemson football off to good start vs. Notre Dame offense
Clemson's defense has not played well in the first half this season. It's early, but the Tigers are faring much better against Notre Dame.
The Irish, No. 40 in FBS in rushing at 186.6 yards per game and averaging 4.38 yards per carry, have averaged 2.5 yards on their six carries with a long gain of 4 yards.
Clemson also has a third-down sack (negated by a facemask penalty) and a third-down pass broken up at the line of scrimmage.
7:51 p.m. | Notre Dame special teams strike first against Clemson football
Notre Dame scored first with its sixth blocked punt of the season.
Aidan Swanson's attempt was blocked by the Irish's Jordan Botehlo, who dashed past Ruke Orhorhoro, and the ball was picked up by Prince Kollie Und at the 17 and returned for a touchdown.
1Q: Notre Dame 7, No. 4 Clemson 0, 9:08.
7:47 p.m. | Clemson football's Beaux Collins not using hands well on first series
Clemson's first possession went nowhere because wide receiver Beaux Collins had a hands problem while blocking.
Collins was called for holding twice, negating two good gains.
7:44 p.m. | Clemson football's 'key players' factor in to Notre Dame's first series
NBC identified Clemson linebacker Barrett Carter and defensive end Myles Murphy as the Tigers' key defensive players. Both were on camera quickly.
On Notre Dame's second play, Fighting Irish quarterback Drew Pyne threw to 265-pound tight end Michael Mayer, who Carter will be covering in most alignments. Carter learned that it will take more than a shoulder to stop Mayer, who bounced off and gained a first down.
Three plays later on a third-and-6, Pyne tried to pass. He was sacked by Murphy, forcing a punt.
7:25 p.m. | Clemson football missing key defensive player
The Tigers will be without a key member of their defensive line against Notre Dame:
TROUBLE FOR TIGERS:Clemson football defensive end Xavier Thomas out against Notre Dame
Clemson football vs. Notre Dame live score updates
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This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Clemson football: Observations during a crushing loss at Notre Dame
