The #6 Notre Dame Fighting Irish defied injuries and skeptics over the first four weeks of the 2015 college football season, surviving key injuries all over the roster (including starting QB Malik Zaire's season-ender) en route to a 4-0 start.
For three quarters, the #12 Clemson Tigers had Notre Dame's held Notre Dame's undefeated run by the throat for most of the night, staking themselves to a 21-3 lead with an impressive defensive performance. Notre Dame looked like they'd wriggle free with a 19-point outburst in the 4th, but a potential game-tying two-point conversion went for naught, sealing a heart-stopping 24-22 Clemson win.
The Tigers (4-0) D absolutely picked apart Notre Dame's offense over the first three quarters in Death Valley, riding the energy of a rabid home crowd. Notre Dame (4-1) would fight back valiantly in the 4th with a 56-yard TD connection aerial connection between QB DeShone Kizer and RB CJ Prosise and a 3-yard TD run by Kizer, cutting the deficit to 8.
Notre Dame kept the momentum going with two late drives deep into Clemson territory. One bore no fruit after WR Chris Brown fumble at the Clemson 4, and one did when Kizer found Torii Hunter Jr. for a one-yard TD pass with under 10 seconds to go. However, forced to go for two down 24-22, the Irish's conversion would fail -- thus ending their undefeated season in crushing fashion.
Kizer looked overmatched for most of the night before catching fire late to finish with 19-of-34 passing for 321 yards. In addition to Kizer's early passing struggles, Notre Dame's running game was suffocated by run-focused Clemson fronts (until the 4th quarter). ND finished with 116 rushing yards altogether, with most of those coming as they clawed back in it in the 4th.
Clemson's offense wasn't that much better for the majority of the proceedings on Saturday, especially through the air. Heisman hopeful QB Deshaun Watson threw for just 97 yards, but he did have two passing touchdowns to his credit to go with a 93-yard, 1-TD game on the ground. All of that was enough to back up a Tigers defense which should receive a collective game ball for one of the biggest home wins for Clemson in recent memory.
With this top-six home victory, the Clemson Tigers now await the revealing of tomorrow's updated AP Poll to see just how close they are to their College Football Playoff dreams. Notre Dame, on the other hand, must get their house back in order with home dates looming against Navy and USC the next two weeks.
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