In the game of the week in college football, No. 1 Clemson headed to South Bend to take on the No. 4 Notre Dame Fighting Irish in a crucial ACC game.
The marquee game of the college football weekend took place inside Notre Dame Stadium, and featured the No. 1 team in the country against the No. 4 team in the land. Despite playing on the road with a true freshman quarterback, No. 1 Clemson came into the game as the favorite, but were punched in the mouth right away by the home Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
On the Irish’s first play from scrimmage, star running back Kyren Williams took it to the house, rushing 65 yards to get Notre Dame on the board. It was the start of a first half that was dominated by Notre Dame, and they forced multiple turnovers by the Tigers, and went into halftime up ten with the score sitting at 23-13.
The second half kickoff went out of bounds, giving Clemson solid field possession. Last weekend, Clemson was down at the half against Boston College and came all the way back, and that was the fear going into the final two quarters of this one.
Clemson was able to notch the score up 23-23 heading into the fourth, this after Ian Book fumbled into the end zone to give the Tigers the ball. Notre Dame’s defense was able to force a three and out to close out the third, setting up an incredible finish.
With under four minutes left in the fourth quarter, Travis Etienne scored to give the Tigers a 33-26 lead, and it looked like Notre Dame would go quietly into the night. That would not be the case, as Ian Book led his team on a 91-yard drive to send the game into overtime, and he certainly was not done there.
Notre Dame was able to respond to Clemson scoring first in overtime, as Williams found the end zone from three yards out. In the second OT, the Fighting Irish got the ball first, and Book utilized his legs and his arm to put his team on his back, setting Williams up for another touchdown.
The Fighting Irish defense stepped up big time in the second overtime, sacking D.J. Uiagalelei twice, and forcing Clemson to try and convert from third and fourth-and-24. Notre Dame was able to get the stop, winning the game and moving to 7-0, and possibly claiming a No. 1 ranking in the country.
No. 4 Notre Dame knocks off No. 1 Clemson in OT, 47-40
Looking Ahead
It should be smooth sailing for the Fighting Irish moving forward, as they close out their season with games against teams that are not ranked. In fact, Clemson was the only ranked team on their schedule, so playing the way they did on Saturday night could go a long way in this team reaching the College Football Playoff.
Next weekend, Notre Dame will start a four-game stretch to close out the season that will see them play away from Notre Dame Stadium three times. They head to Boston College and North Carolina in back-to-back weeks, before coming home for the Syracuse game, and then finishing up their ACC slate against Wake Forest.
For Notre Dame, this has the chance to be a very special season, as they have playmakers on both sides of the ball, and a veteran quarterback who can win them big games. This was a statement win for the Fighting Irish, and if they can take care of business the rest of the way, they have a legitimate shot at a national title.