Notre Dame Football dug itself an early hole that it could not dig itself out of, falling to the Clemson Tigers 31-23 on the road.
“We all had a chip on our shoulder,” tailback Phil Mafah said. Clemson had heard all week — and most of the season — about how this season was below standard and had not lived up to expectations. The Tigers wanted to prove they had something left in the tank and not just playing out the string against Notre Dame Football.
Clemson also found motivation from an unusual place. At the end of the game, there were faint chants of “Take that, Tyler.” The chant referred to a young man who called into Dabo Swinney’s weekly radio show, criticizing the two-time National Championship-winning coach.
“Listen, man, you can have your opinion all you want, and you can apply for the job. And good luck to you, Swinney replied.”
For Notre Dame football, Saturday was another chapter of what has become quite the rivalry against Clemson. Last season, the Irish hosted the Tigers, ranked fifth at the time, and defeated them handily. Clemson returned the favor at home this year.
Clemson is the dragon that Sam Hartman could not slay. He never defeated Clemson, and Saturday was one of his worst performances against the Tigers. Notre Dame got down early, and the offense could not dig themselves out of the hole.
Here are takeaways from Saturday’s road loss to the Tigers.
Notre Dame Football Offensive Takeaways
The Clemson Tigers did everything possible to hand the game back to the Irish in the fourth quarter. The Tigers did not score in the final frame, gaining only 27 yards in the fourth quarter. Cade Klubnik nearly lost a high snap, and Phil Mafah — who was otherwise dazzling in the game — fumbled late in the fourth quarter.
However, Notre Dame Football could not move the football after getting within one score. That is square y on the right arm of quarterback Sam Hartman. Not only did the Wake Forest transfer play poorly, but Saturday was his worst game in an Irish uniform and perhaps his worst game against Clemson.
Hartman was 13-30 for 146 yards and two interceptions. The passing game was inept, and when the Irish needed plays from the quarterback, he did not come up with the goods. With tight end Mitche l Evans out for this game and the season, Hartman could not find anyone else consistently.
The offensive line did a solid job in pass protection most of the game, and Audric Estime picked up the blitz and ran the football. Saturday afternoon was a stark reminder of the importance of having a playmaker at quarterback. Notre Dame does not have one.
Notre Dame football defensive takeaways:
The Notre Dame defense was solid on a down-to-down basis most of this game. They allowed 285 total yards and forced two turnovers. Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik threw for a meager 109 yards. The Tigers converted 33 percent of its third downs and averaged 4.1 yards per play.
Clemson punted seven times. Six of those punts were after drives of five or fewer plays.
The difference was running back Phil Mafah. Notre Dame could not slow down Mafah. The Junior running back had a career-high 186 rushing yards and two touchdowns. He got the scoring started for the Tigers with a 41-yard touchdown run.
In addition to Mafah, Clemson’s turnover luck turned in their favor. Linebacker Jeremiah Trotter returned an interception for a touchdown.
Punt coverage was also a letdown for Notre Dame Clemson returner Hamp Greene, who did a great job flipping field position for the Tigers. Chris Tyree struggled to return punts. He muffed a punt that led to a field goal and let The Irish had to defend short fields most of the day.
Despite a tough first half, the Irish defense bowed in the second half, allowing one score. It did everything it could to help Notre Dame get back into the game and turn the tide.
What’s next for Notre Dame football?
On the back end, the Irish are likely all but out of a New Year’s Six Bowl game. The third loss hurts because they don’t have enough on the schedule to bolster its resume. The Irish’s losses don’t look great either. USC lost Saturday night; Louisville put the boots to an undermanned Virginia Tech team but lost to Pitt.
Ohio State has looked pedestrian most of the season. Head coach Marcus Freeman and the Irish have an off week this week before hosting Wake Forest on November 18th and closing the season against the Stanford Cardinal on the 25th.
No matter the outcome of the season, there are going to be some questions that Coach Freeman will have to answer. Quite frankly, he needs to sit down with Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick — or his successor — and sell them on putting up the money for an offensive coordinator.
Coach Freeman and his staff are going to have to evaluate the quarterback position as well. Hartman is gone after this season, and they have to determine whether or not they are going to the portal for another starter or hand the keys off to true freshman CJ Carr.
There is a next step for this Notre Dame football team; let’s see where it goes.