No. 1 Clemson suffers first defeat of the season and it came in a double-overtime primetime highlighter on Saturday night against a fourth-ranked Notre Dame football team that has now improved to make the college football playoffs.
NOTRE DAME, Ind. — No. 4 Notre Dame took down No. 1 Clemson, 47-40, in a double-overtime thriller at Notre Dame Stadium Saturday night. The defeat saw Clemson losing its 36-game regular-season winning streak. Box Score (PDF).
The loss also snapped Clemson’s FBS record 50-game winning streak.
After trailing for most of the game, Clemson (7-1) took a 33-26 lead when Travis Etienne ran home for a 3-yard score with 3:33 left to play in the game, but Notre Dame responded with an eight-play, 91 yards drive in 1:26 to send the game into overtime.
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Avery Davis grabbing a four yard catch from Ian Book to secure the extended time on the night.
The top-ranked Tigers showed their quality by scoring on its first play in overtime to regain a 40-33 advantage.
However, the Fighting Irish (7-0) responded with a four-play drive capped by a Kyren Williams three-yard rush for a touchdown to tie the game. The same player then rushed for another three-yard score to give the home side the lead and then the defense did the rest for the home side, which forced a fumble when Clemson got back the ball.
Notre Dame, which was grabbing its 23rd consecutive win at home, was also earning its ninth win in program history over an AP No. 1 ranked side, but the first over a top-ranked side in 27 years!
Ian Book was 22 of 39 for 310 yards with one touchdown in passing to go with his 64 yards on the ground. Kyren Williams ran 23 times for 140 yards and three scores and Javon McKinley caught five passes for 102 yards in the win for the Irish, who will take on the Boston College Eagles on the road next Saturday.
For Clemson, freshman quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei, starting for the second time in place of Trevor Lawrence, threw for 439 yards and two touchdowns on 29 of 44 completed passes.
Redshirt senior Cornell Powell tallied a career-high 161 yards on six receptions to go along with his touchdown and Amari Rodgers had eight catches for 134 yards in the defeat.
Travis Etienne was held to just 28 yards and a touchdown for the Tigers.
Clemson will be inactive next week prior to returning to action against Florida State in Tallahassee on Saturday, Nov. 21.
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