Louisville Claims Victory Over Clemson with a 33-21 Upset
In an impressive display on Saturday, the Louisville Cardinals (6-3, 4-2 ACC) defeated the No. 11/8 Clemson Tigers (6-2, 5-1 ACC) by a final score of 33-21 at Memorial Stadium. The Cardinals dominated the scoring with five consecutive drives leading to points, showcasing their offensive prowess throughout the game. Running back Phil Mafah shone for Clemson, recording a season-high 199 yards of total offense, including 171 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 30 carries.
Despite Clemson outgaining Louisville 450-366 and amassing 31 first downs while possessing the ball for 37:52 on 101 plays, the Tigers could not convert their opportunities into the desired results. Quarterback Cade Klubnik was active, completing 33 of 56 passes for 228 yards and a touchdown, and adding 43 rushing yards from 12 attempts. Defensive standout Wade Woodaz led Clemson with 11 tackles.
The game’s scoring opened with Cardinals kicker Brock Travelstead nailing a 21-yard field goal to give Louisville an early 3-0 lead. Clemson responded with an 11-play drive capped by a touchdown pass from Klubnik to Antonio Williams, taking a short-lived lead at 7-3 at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Louisville regained the lead with a rushing touchdown from quarterback Tyler Shough. Clemson’s Nolan Hauser attempted to tie the game with a blocked 49-yard field goal, after which Louisville running back Keyjuan Brown scored on a six-play drive, extending their lead to 17-7 at halftime.
Clemson tightened their defense in the third quarter, keeping the Cardinals from scoring a touchdown, yet they conceded three field goals from Travelstead, increasing Louisville’s lead to 26-7 heading into the fourth.
The final quarter saw Clemson make a push with a 61-yard drive culminating in Mafah’s first touchdown run. However, Louisville quickly rebounded after recovering an onside kick, with Isaac Brown sprinting 45 yards for a touchdown to extend the lead to 33-14. Mafah added a second rushing touchdown late in the game, stealing a bit of the spotlight with a 12-play, 75-yard drive to conclude the contest at 33-21.
During the match, Clemson honored its latest inductees into the Athletic Hall of Fame, including notable football alumni Tajh Boyd and Sammy Watkins, creating a memorable atmosphere despite the outcome.
Moving forward, Clemson will face challenges on the road with consecutive away games against Virginia Tech on November 9 and Pittsburgh on November 16. Additionally, they have two remaining home games against in-state rivals The Citadel on November 23 and South Carolina on November 30, with ticket packages for these upcoming games available for fans.
This defeat could serve as a wakeup call for Clemson as they approach the final stretch of the season. The opportunity remains to learn from this loss, adjust strategies, and come back stronger in their upcoming matchups.