Just days after being ranked No. 4 in the first College Football Playoff rankings, Clemson was destroyed on the road by unranked Notre Dame, 35-14. All of the Tigers’ flaws were showing and even their strengths fell flat. Clemson’s offense performed terribly, putting just 14 points on the board while averaging 4.7 yards per play. Both DJ Uiagalelei and Cade Klubnik threw interceptions, and Uiagalelei’s interception was returned 96 yards for a touchdown. Clemson was expected to have an advantage with Will Shipley at running back, but it wasn’t a factor as the Tigers were forced to play from behind for nearly the entire game. Notre Dame took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter with special teams play. Irish burst through Clemson’s defense, blocked the punt and returned it for a touchdown. The way Clemson looked on offense, that deficit was insurmountable. Clemson advanced into Notre Dame territory just once in the first half, and that resulted in a turnover on downs. And as the half wore on, Notre Dame’s offense got into a bit of a rhythm. Clemson’s defense had a lot of trouble stopping Notre Dame’s rushing attack. The Irish are completely one-dimensional on offense, yet the Tigers’ vaunted defensive line was pushed to the point of attack all night. Notre Dame had just 85 yards passing on the night, but ended up rushing for 265 yards in the win. That’s the most rushing yards Clemson has allowed in a game since 2016, when Lamar Jackson and Louisville combined for 273 yards. Then, Clemson had the offense to overcome a rare night off defense. These days, that just doesn’t happen. Quarterback play is rudimentary. The offensive line is average at best. Receivers do not open. And the play-calling lacks any imagination. Not a good recipe. Those offensive struggles proved costly early in 2021 when Clemson lost two games. But at this point in the 2022 season, there were some signs of improvement. That includes Uiagalelei, who might have been the worst starter in the ACC last fall. The story continues Notre Dame defensive end Howard Cross III bows after being sacked by Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagalelei during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/ Charles Rex Arbogast) Uiagalelei has done enough to lead Clemson to a 7-0 record to start this season, but some of his mistake-filled games from 2021 resurfaced two weeks ago against Syracuse. In that game, Dabo Swinney picked him up for Klubnik, the five-star rookie. Klubnik wasn’t called upon to throw many passes, but he avoided turnovers and helped the Tigers come back to win 27-21. Against Notre Dame, Sweeney again turned to Klubnick. This time it came with the Irish leading 14-0 late in the third quarter, but the results were much different than the Syracuse game. With the Tigers backed up near their own end zone, Klubnik’s only throw of the night was intercepted by Notre Dame’s Benjamin Morrison. It was a poor decision, a throw off his back foot as he rolled to the right. The turnover gave Notre Dame the ball at the Clemson 14. Three plays later, the Irish had extended their lead to 21-0. Sweeney had a short leash with the freshman and returned to Wyagaley. On the ensuing drive, the junior drove the Tigers into Notre Dame territory, only to throw an interception of his own. It was Morrison again, and he took it 96 yards to the house to cap a special night for the Irish and a miserable one for Clemson. Clemson had two scoring drives in the fourth quarter, but it was too little too late. With the loss, Clemson’s College Football Playoff hopes took a serious – and potentially fatal – blow. Notre Dame, meanwhile, has a signature win in the first year of the Marcus Freeman era. The Irish lost at home to Marshall and Stanford earlier this season, but were up to the task with Clemson visiting Notre Dame Stadium.
