Clemson, S.C.– On an unseasonably warm November night, with temperatures at kickoff reaching 76 degrees, the Clemson Tigers welcomed the Louisville Cardinals to Memorial Stadium for a high-stakes ACC showdown. Both teams entered undefeated in conference play, but it was Louisville who ultimately made history, securing their first-ever victory over Clemson, 33-21.
The Cardinals handled the electric atmosphere of Death Valley with poise, notching a signature win. The loss not only dents Clemson’s ACC title hopes but also extends their unfortunate post-bye losing streak to three games over the last three years, following defeats to Notre Dame in 2022, Miami in 2023, and now Louisville.
The Tigers’ offense, which had been explosive over the past six weeks, stalled early. Quarterback Cade Klubnik started the game completing three out of five passes for zero yards across the Tigers’ first two drives. Meanwhile, Louisville exploited Clemson’s defensive gaps with key conversions, including a 47-yard run on a wide receiver reverse.
Clemson’s first score came on an 11-play, 75-yard drive, capped off by a 12-yard touchdown pass from Klubnik to Antonio Williams just before the first quarter ended, giving the Tigers a narrow 7-3 lead despite being outgained 105-78 in the quarter.
Midway through the second quarter, a pass interference penalty on Clemson set up Louisville deep in Tiger territory. Senior QB Tyler Shough found the end zone on a 4-yard run, and shortly afterward, Shough’s acrobatic touchdown run put Louisville ahead 10-7. The Cardinals’ defense continued to frustrate Clemson, blocking a 49-yard field goal attempt by Clemson’s freshman kicker Nolan Hauser before halftime.
With only minutes remaining in the first half, Louisville orchestrated another quick scoring drive, taking a 17-7 lead into the break after Clemson’s own drive ended with a dropped pass from tight end Jake Briningstool. Louisville outgained Clemson 228-169 in the first half, demonstrating their command of the game.
“They’re playing tougher than we are,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney remarked at halftime.
The third quarter saw Louisville further extend their lead with three field goals by kicker James Turner Travelstead, including one following a critical stop on Clemson’s fourth-and-1 attempt at their own 34-yard line. Clemson’s offense, averaging 42 points and nearly 500 yards per game, appeared uncharacteristically out of sync, reminiscent of their season-opening loss to Georgia.
Trailing by 19 points late in the third, Clemson showed little urgency to rally. On a fourth-and-7 inside Louisville’s red zone, the Tigers chose to attempt a field goal, only for Hauser’s kick to be blocked once again. That marked the freshman’s fifth blocked kick this season, highlighting Clemson’s continued struggles in special teams.
In the final quarter, Louisville sealed the victory when freshman running back Isaac Brown exploded for a career-high 151 yards, including a late touchdown. With 847 rushing yards on the season, Brown is closing in on the school freshman record set by Lamar Jackson in 2015.
Despite gaining 450 total yards, Clemson’s offense was plagued by dropped passes, penalties, and stalled drives. Klubnik finished 33 of 56 for 228 yards and one touchdown but struggled with consistency. Phil Mafah contributed with 171 rushing yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Tigers’ offensive misfires.
Adding to the team’s woes, defensive players Peter Woods, Tre Williams, DeMonte Capehart, and Shelton Lewis sustained injuries during the game. The loss snapped Clemson’s momentum from previous weeks and raises questions as they look to recover in their upcoming road game against Virginia Tech.
Up Next:
Louisville is off before heading to Stanford on Nov. 16.
Clemson plays at Virginia Tech next Saturday.
