Bring Your Own Guts – Notre Dame vs. Clemson
October 3, 2015. It was a date that was mostly the same memory for people across the United States. Hurricane Joaquin was taking over the east coast, sending torrential downpours and flooding the southeastern part of the country. However, for Tiger fans, every person remembers this date as the night the Tigers faced the highly-rated Notre Dame Fighting Irish in Death Valley. Notably, the defensive stops led to an incredible Clemson victory that was capped off by head coach Dabo Swinney’s trademarked speech. From College Gameday in the morning to the win at night, this day will forever live in Clemson football memory.
How Did We Get Here?
The 2015 Clemson Tigers was a completely different team that was ready to not only put the ACC on notice but the entire country. The team had plenty of momentum through a rivalry win against South Carolina a year before, their first time winning in six years, and a Russell Athletic Bowl wins against Oklahoma to finish off the 2014 season. There was an overwhelming buzz around new Tiger QB Deshaun Watson, who was Cole Stoudt’s backup a year before and finally took the job after Stoudt graduated.
The Tigers started off the season strong with two blowout wins over Wofford and Appalachian State, with players like Watson and running back Wayne Gallman headlining these games. It wasn’t until Clemson traveled to Louisville to face the Cardinals in their first conference matchup that problems arose.
On the first offensive drive of the game for the Tigers, the young Watson struggled, throwing an interception in the first quarter. He would throw another one on the first drive of the second half as well, struggling to find his footing away from home. It was the defense who took over at the end of the game, who forced two interceptions, a missed field goal, and a turnover on downs down the stretch to escape the 0-2 Cardinals with a 20-17 victory.
After the nervous game versus Louisville, the Tigers dropped one spot in the national rankings, going from the No. 11 to No. 12 in the polls. Some fans were nervous about the upcoming game, where the Tigers would face the No. 6 Notre Dame Fighting Irish in a primetime game. College GameDay would be on campus, and Hurricane Joaquin was ready to hit Death Valley that day. It was set to be a game for the ages, and the Tigers were looking to shock the Irish with a statement win at home.
A Trademark Clemson Defensive Masterclass
Clemson started the game strong, bursting out of the gate when a phenomenal opening drive. On the first play of the game, it was Watson shaking off the rust from the previous game, calling his own number on a quarterback draw and breaking left for a 38-yard rush, immediately getting the Tigers into enemy territory. After a few more plays to get to the Irish’s six-yard line, Watson capped off a perfect opening drive by rolling out and hitting tight end Jordan Leggett, who dove over an incoming Notre Dame defender, landing in the end zone for the opening score.
A three-and-out by the Irish gave the Tigers the ball back right away. Watson struck again, rolling out and finding receiver Hunter Renfrow for a 24-yard play to move the Tigers into the red zone. Two plays later, Clemson would double the lead, as Watson found Artavis Scott on a slant route and Scott broke two tackles to reach the end zone.
Notre Dame quarterback DeShone Kizer was able to lead his team down the field, only to find a field goal at the end of the drive to get on the board and trail 14-3. No team would score again for the remainder of the half. Both defenses would prevail across the course of the game, with the Clemson defense forcing four turnovers while the Irish had one.
But at the beginning of the second half, the Tigers struck again. They kicked the ball away to Notre Dame returner C.J. Sanders, who lost the ball and the Tigers pounced on it, receiving great field position at the Notre Dame 29-yard line. Watson and the offense only needed three plays to reach the end zone once again, with the signal-caller calling his own number again, finding a lane to break out into open space and score on a 21-yard run. Notre Dame would fumble once again a play later, but the Tigers were unable to capitalize.
Toward the end of the third quarter, it was obvious that the momentum was turning toward Irish head coach Brian Kelly and his team, and it started with a mistake by Watson. The sophomore was looking for receiver Charone Peake, and a slightly under-thrown pass toward the end zone found the hands of Cole Luke, who gave the Irish the ball back. Kizer was able to bring his team three more points off the turnover, and after Clemson responded with a field goal of their own, Kizer finally scored Notre Dame’s first touchdown of the game, calling his own number on a three-yard score.
24-16, Tigers. Nine minutes to go, and Notre Dame clearly had the momentum.
After Clemson punted the ball away once again, the Tigers had their moment to seal the game. Kizer was unable to withstand the Tiger pressure, and his pass was intercepted by B.J. Goodson at the Notre Dame 35-yard line. After Clemson gained eight yards through three plays, kicker Greg Huegel hit the ball wide, keeping it at an eight-point game.
Despite Notre Dame getting the ball back, the Tiger defense proved once again why it was one of the best in the country. While the Irish were stringing a few plays together, a pass to receiver Chris Brown was fumbled through the wet weather and Clemson once again forced another turnover to prevent points with a little more than two minutes to go. However, Clemson was unable to run out the clock, and Dabo Swinney had to rely on his defense to force one more stop if the Tigers wanted to win this game.
24-16, Clemson. Notre Dame has the ball on Clemson’s 32-yard line with one minute to go.
Despite the Tigers forcing a six-yard loss and an incomplete pass, Kizer stayed composed, finding Amir Carlisle for a 20-yard pass. He would then find C.J. Prosise for a 16-yard play, and the Irish were knocking on the door to tie the game. With 12 seconds to go, the Irish had the ball on the two-yard line. A play later, Kizer would find Torii Hunter Jr. in the back corner of the end zone, and the Irish were a two-point conversion away from tying it.
In the next play to decide it all, it was Ben Bouleware who took matters into his own hands. As Kizer snapped the ball and rolled right, the legendary linebacker was there to meet him, stopping him at the one-yard line with other Tigers were able to keep the lead and win the game.
In a gusty battle between two legendary teams, the Tigers came out on top, and head coach Dabo Swinney put it perfectly in the post-game interview.
The Tigers would not lose a game for the rest of the regular season, defeating North Carolina in the ACC Championship game to advance to the College Football Playoff as the No. 1 seed. After defeating Oklahoma in the semi-finals, the Tigers would fall short of the Alabama Crimson Tide in the final. However, the story doesn’t end there, because I’m sure Tiger fans know what happened a year later…
