Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables learned a lot about his defense on Saturday. He learned they still have some work to do.

The sixth-ranked Tigers allowed 225 yards in the fourth quarter of last Saturday’s win over Notre Dame, including 202 passing yards to quarterback DeShone Kiser. In the end, they still found a way to win the game when Carlos Watkins tackled Kiser on a two-point attempt to tie the game with seven seconds to play.

“They are a good football team that showed us a few things we need to get better at,” Venables said on Tuesday. “Good learning opportunity.”

For three quarters last Saturday night, Notre Dame’s offense had no business being on the field against Clemson. The Tigers manhandled the Irish for the first three quarters, holding them to 212 yards and to 11 first downs.

But that all ended on the first play of the fourth quarter when running back C.J. Prosise slipped out of the back field and ran up the sideline. He was wide open on a wheel route for a 56-yard touchdown pass.

“We let the wheel rout happen because we are staring at the quarterback,” Venables said. “There were some disappointing things that allowed them to creep back in the game, but it was an awesome opportunity to teach our guys and coach them up after a win.”

After the Prosise touchdown, Clemson gave up a four-play 63-yard drive, in which it seemed every Notre Dame receiver was coming open underneath. Kiser took it in from the three-yard line to cap the drive, which pulled the Irish within eight points.

It took Kiser just six plays to get the Irish in the end zone on the game’s final drive, which he capped off with a one-yard toss to Korii Hunter with seven seconds to play.

“We just broke down fundamentally and with our discipline. We had guys trying to do too much,” Venables said. “We saw some guys panicking. They were throwing the ball one or two yards beyond the line of scrimmage and they were turning it into 30- to 40-yard gains.”

Kiser completed 9 of 12 passes for 202 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter.

“Really that wheel route is the one that kind of opened up the box and kind of got us on our heels,” Venables said. “There’s plenty to correct in the first three quarters as well.”