It’s a game that has lived up to its billing. Notre Dame and Clemson have been competitive the entire way. As a generation of Irish fans has come to expect, there’s no room for their team when it comes to beating the best of the best. But that might not be the case for long. We’re headed to overtime with these teams tied at 33.
After Jonathan Doerer and B.T. Potter traded field goals to begin the fourth quarter, the Tigers began a key drive at their own 26-yard line. Thanks to D.J. Uiagalelei’s play and leadership, Travis Etienne living up to his reputation as the ACC’s all-time leading rusher, and the Irish taking an uncharacteristic amount of penalties, it was inevitable that the nation’s top-ranked team would reach the end zone. That’s exactly what happened on a 3-yard run from Etienne.
The Irish then had a chance to march down the field and tie the game or even retake the lead. They picked up a couple of first downs but never got past the Clemson 47. It didn’t help that the final series included a questionable decision to pick up a pass interference flag against the Tigers. But the Notre Dame offense had been shaky the entire game, so it’s not like it deserved breaks at that point in the game anyway.
The Tigers went three and out on their next possession, giving the Irish one final opportunity. Looking to make the play that would put his team in position to do it, Ian Book found Avery Davis for a 53-yard completion to the Tigers’ 4. Three plays later, Book connected with Davis again, this time in the end zone to tie the score.