No. 12 Clemson’s hopes of stepping into the College Football Playoff are nonetheless alive regardless of a 17-14 house loss to No. 15 South Carolina. The Gamecocks obtained the win off two big landing runs from South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers.
South Carolina took the three-point lead with somewhat over a minute left after Sellers scrambled for a 20-yard landing run on third-and-16.
With one remaining drive, Clemson moved the ball down the sphere with an opportunity to attain, however quarterback Cade Klubnik threw an interception that sealed the win for the Gamecocks.
After a troublesome first quarter that includes a South Carolina fumble on the primary drive and Clemson turning it over on downs, the Tigers struck first with a landing within the second quarter. But the Gamecocks adopted it up with a landing of their very own. Sellers stored the ball and ran 25 yards into the tip zone to tie issues at 7-7.
Clemson then opened the second half with one other landing, taking a 14-7 lead. Klubnik ran for each of Clemson’s touchdowns as properly, selecting up 62 complete speeding yards.
A messy third quarter for each groups noticed back-to-back turnovers, with the Gamecocks fumbling the ball first and the Tigers going proper afterward. At the beginning of the fourth quarter, Clemson security Khalil Barnes picked off Sellers to provide the Tigers again the ball, however the workforce was pressured to punt after going three-and-out.
South Carolina then minimize by way of the seven-point deficit with a subject aim, after which Sellers performed hero for the game-winning landing, discovering the opening within the protection and shaking off two tackles to get into the tip zone. Sellers ended the sport with 16 carries, selecting up extra speeding yards (166) than passing yards (164).
Clemson falls to 9-3 with the loss however can nonetheless make the CFP. The Tigers backed into the ACC title sport after Syracuse upset Miami late Saturday. They’ll face SMU subsequent Saturday with a CFP bye on the road.