Clemson University achieved a historic milestone by securing its 800th victory in college football, defeating NC State 59-35 in a packed Memorial Stadium during the 92nd Textile Bowl. This victory marks Clemson as the first team in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and the 14th team in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) to reach this milestone.
Junior quarterback Cade Klubnik was a standout performer, leading Clemson to touchdowns on seven out of nine drives. He finished the game with 16 completions on 24 attempts for 209 yards and three touchdown passes, along with 70 rushing yards, highlighted by an impressive 55-yard touchdown run.
The Tigers’ defense played a significant role, forcing two fumbles in the first quarter, contributing to a commanding 28-0 lead by the end of the first quarter and a 45-7 lead at halftime. Running back Phil Mafah also had a notable performance, rushing for 107 yards and a touchdown, becoming the 22nd player in Clemson history to surpass 2,000 career rushing yards.
Clemson’s defense continued to shine with a 53-yard interception return for a touchdown by cornerback Ashton Hampton. The team recorded eight tackles for loss, including a standout performance from freshman linebacker Sammy Brown, who had four tackles for loss.
Klubnik opened the scoring with a career-best 55-yard run, the longest by a Clemson quarterback since Trevor Lawrence. The Tigers quickly established their dominance, as they scored on their first four offensive drives.
Despite NC State scoring their first points with a touchdown run by Jordan Waters, Clemson responded with a touchdown from wide receiver Cole Turner, marking his first career touchdown. The Tigers maintained control, heading into halftime with a 45-7 advantage.
Clemson continued to apply pressure in the second half with another touchdown pass from Klubnik and a defensive touchdown from Hampton. Although NC State managed to score late in the game, the Tigers ultimately secured the victory by a comfortable margin.
Clemson’s football program will look to build on this momentum as they prepare to face Stanford during Homecoming weekend on September 28. The matchup is scheduled for a 7 p.m. kickoff on ESPN.