Well, we finally have the barn burner we were expecting in South Bend. Is it because Clemson is figuring out Notre Dame’s defense? Perhaps it’s the long time of possession the Tigers had in the third quarter. Whatever the reason, the final 15 minutes of regulation will begin with a 23-all game.
The Tigers took the ball to begin the second half and got far enough down field for B.T. Potter to kick a 46-yard field goal. The Irish promptly went three and out, Jay Bramblett had a short punt, and that began a Clemson possession that lasted nearly six-and-a-half minutes — longer than anyone in gold and blue would have liked. Led by D.J. Uiagalelei, the Tigers used every offensive weapon in their arsenal to pick up a third down, a fourth down and finally, a 10-yard touchdown caught by Davis Allen. The Tigers had scored 13 unanswered to knot it up.
The Irish appeared poised to take the lead right back. Ian Book opened the next drive with a 45-yard pass to Javon McKinley that required a replay review to confirm. Another review had to confirm a much shorter catch by Michael Mayer. Finally, Book was about to run for the touchdown from 7 yards out, only to lose the ball and have Baylon Spector recover it in the end zone for a touchback.