CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — On Saturday night, Louisville achieved a significant milestone by defeating No. 11 Clemson for the first time, coming out on top with a score of 33-21. Isaac Brown was a standout player, rushing for a personal best of 151 yards, including a pivotal touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Quarterback Tyler Shough contributed to the victory by scoring a touchdown with an impressive somersault into the end zone, while Brock Travelstead tied his own career high, successfully making four field goals. This win secured Louisville (6-4, 4-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference) a spot in a bowl game and broke their previous 0-8 record against the Tigers (6-2, 5-1).
With this loss, Clemson’s chances of competing for an ACC title and a College Football Playoff spot took a hit. The Tigers were one of four undefeated ACC teams at the start of the week but now need assistance from other teams as the season progresses.
Shough’s touchdown in the second quarter helped the Cardinals gain the lead, putting them ahead 10-7 after a 4-yard run. Travelstead, who has been reliable this season, made field goals from distances of 21, 42, 40, and 49 yards.
As Clemson attempted a comeback, pulling within 26-14 in the final quarter, Brown dashed those hopes with a 45-yard rushing touchdown. This marked his fourth game with over 100 rushing yards this season, bringing his total to 847 yards, just shy of breaking Lamar Jackson’s freshman record of 960 yards.
Louisville had faced challenges earlier in the season, starting strong at 3-0 but then losing three of their last five games. They were considered underdogs heading into this match against Clemson.
Clemson had been averaging 42 points and 490 yards per game in their earlier matches. However, Louisville’s strong performance kept them from finding the end zone consistently. The Cardinals were quick to capitalize on the Tigers’ mistakes, blocking a field goal attempt late in the second quarter and extending their lead to 17-7 at halftime—the first time Clemson has trailed at the break since their loss to Georgia.
Clemson’s running back Phil Mafah managed to rack up 171 yards and scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
Takeaways:
Louisville’s defense, which struggled over the last few games, stepped up when it mattered, including a key stop on a fourth-and-1 play when Clemson was pushing to keep a drive alive. Meanwhile, Clemson finds itself in a tight spot again after bouncing back from a season-opening loss. Winning their final four games doesn’t guarantee them a chance for the league title.
Next Steps:
Louisville will take a break before facing Stanford on November 16, while Clemson is set to play at Virginia Tech next Saturday.
