Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers survived a would-be second-half collapse and rallied late for a 24-20 victory over the Pitt Panthers Saturday at Acrisure Stadium, formerly Heinz Field.
Clemson (8-2, 7-1) had coughed up a 17-7 halftime lead and trailed 20-17 after Ben Sauls’ 47-yard field goal put Pitt ahead for the first time all afternoon with 1:36 to play in the game.
That’s when Cade Klubnik gashed the Panthers. After Clemson took over at its 25 on the next series, Klubnik hit Antonio Williams for 18 yards and a first down to the 43, then found tight end Jake Briningstool for seven more to put the Tigers at midfield.
Klubnik then dropped back, called his own number, veered right and went the distance for a 50-yard touchdown run that gave Clemson the lead with 1:16 left. The Tigers’ quarterback drove/wheeled his team 75 yards on three plays that took only 20 seconds.
Pitt backup quarterback Nate Yarnell drove the Panthers (7-3) to the Clemson 26-yard line before Khalil Barnes made a game-ending interception near the goal line to seal the victory and keep the Tigers’ College Football Playoff hopes alive.
Clemson needs the ACC leading SMU Mustangs (9-1, 6-0) to drop its final two games or the Miami Hurricanes (9-1, 5-1) to lose to either Wake Forest or Syracuse for the Tigers to get to the ACC Championship Game in Charlotte on Dec. 7.
Here are some of the best photos from Clemson’s thrilling 24-20 Week 12 victory over the Pitt Panthers.