LOUISVILLE, Ky — Somehow, some way, Clemson found a way, getting its first win over a ranked opponent.

The Tigers escaped Louisville with a 20-19 win over the No. 20 Cardinals, thanks in large part to a defense that has been dragged over the coals in recent weeks. And a little good fortune.

After starting ACC play 0-2, Clemson finishes 4-4 in league play, avoiding the first sub-.500 season in the conference. The Tigers also move to 9-1 all-time against Louisville, while atoning for last season’s home loss to the Cards. Clemson also moved to 3-1 all-time in Friday night games under Dabo Swinney.

Defense Steps Up

It looked like things were about to go off the rails in that third quarter. Louisville took the opening possession after halftime and went 75 yards in six plays, with Keyjuan Brown gashing the Tigers for 57 yards on the drive. After a 2-yard touchdown pass, the Cardinals led 16-10.

After a Nolan Hauser field goal on the next possession cut the lead to 16-13, Louisville went straight back down the field, driving to the Clemson 27-yard line. The Tigers were able to bow up and hold the Cards to a field goal, and that was it. There would be no more scoring for Louisville. Not that there weren’t opportunities for the Cardinals to put more points on the board.

After Clemson took a 20-19 lead, Louisville used a trick play to help drive down to the Clemson 26-yard line, setting up what could have been a potential game-winning field goal. However, Sammy Brown sacked Miller Moss on third down, the Tigers’ only sack of the game, pushing the attempt back to 50 yards. The Tigers got a little pressure, and the kick went wide left.

After a bad snap on a punt attempt by Clemson gave Louisville the ball at the Tigers’ 23-yard line, the Cards would have one more shot at winning it. A false start would push the ball back five yards. Two plays later, an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty pushed it back 15 more to Clemson’s 42-yard line. Despite picking up 13 yards on 3rd down and trying a different kicker, the Cards still couldn’t push one through the uprights. Once again, the kick went wide left, this time from 46 yards out with 1:30 left in the game.

Outside of the trick play that went for 48, Clemson’s defense held Louisville to just 36 yards in that decisive fourth quarter. Instead of letting what happened in the third quarter snowball, the Tigers buckled down when the game was on the line.

Randall Continues to Do Work

Adam Randall once again showed what he is capable of when he’s got some room to run. The senior had 132 all-purpose yards with two scores. His 42-yard run early in the fourth quarter is what set up his game-winning score from a yard out.

Without Randall, Clemson very likely doesn’t win this game. 65 of his rushing yards came after halftime and he also had 27 receiving yards. He did have a critical drop, one of five that Clemson had in the win.

Smith Does His Part

Jack Smith had five punts in this one, with four of those being downed inside the 20. He did shank one when the Cardinals came after him, but Smith did his part. Setting up Louisville deep in their own territory several times absolutely factored into the win. Not to mention, Smith falling on the bad snap instead of trying to pick it up, to ensure the Cards couldn’t turn it into a scoop and score.

Bowl Streak Should Remain Intact

The last time Clemson didn’t qualify for a bowl game was way back in 1998. The Tigers did not play in one following the 204 season due to the brawl with the rival Gamecocks, but they did qualify. With Furman up next, the win over Louisville basically guarantees that Clemson will go bowling.

The win also means the Tigers should head to Columbia in two weeks with a little momentum, which will include a three-game road winning streak.

Photo by Bart Boatwright