Clemson secured a 24-10 road victory over California at California Memorial Stadium, relying on a second-half surge to pull away from the Golden Bears before an announced crowd of 41,778. While Dabo Swinney’s squad leaves the Bay Area with a 2-0 record in Atlantic Coast Conference play, the performance featured clutch playmaking, offensive stagnation, and costly early errors.
Here is the breakdown of the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly from Clemson’s West Coast trip:
The Good: Davidson’s Dominance, Wesco’s House Call, and Defense
- Gideon Davidson’s Breakout Night: The sophomore running back anchored Clemson’s offense, rushing for 159 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries (7.2 yards per attempt). His defining moment came with 2:58 remaining in the fourth quarter when he broke free up the middle for a 75-yard touchdown run to extend Clemson’s lead to 24-10.
- Bryant Wesco Jr.’s Special Teams Spark: With the game tied 10-10 late in the third quarter, wide receiver Bryant Wesco Jr. provided a game-altering play. Wesco fielded an Angus Davies punt at the Clemson 35-yard line and returned it 65 yards for a touchdown with 3:57 left in the third quarter.
- Stifling Pass Defense: Clemson’s defense held Cal to just three offensive points and 231 total yards across 57 plays. Cornerback Elliot Washington II led the secondary with two interceptions, snaring picks in both the first and fourth quarters. Safeties Jerome Carter III and Corey Myrick, alongside linebacker Sammy Brown, posted eight tackles apiece, while defensive end London Merritt recorded five tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and a sack.
- Time of Possession and Rushing Totals: Clemson controlled the clock for 34:07 compared to Cal’s 25:53, converting 7 of 15 third downs and 2 of 2 fourth downs while racking up 255 net rushing yards.
The Bad: Passing Game Stagnation and Kicking Flaws
- Anemic Air Game: Freshman quarterback Tait Reynolds struggled to create downfield momentum in his second career start, completing 13 of 21 pass attempts for just 108 yards with zero touchdowns and one interception. Tyler Brown led the receiving corps with 39 all-purpose receiving yards on three catches, while Olsen Patt-Henry hauled in a 22-yard reception.
- Nolan Hauser’s Missed Kick: Kicker Nolan Hauser, who entered the game perfect on field goal attempts for the season, missed a 48-yard field goal wide left in the fourth quarter. Hauser did convert a 30-yard field goal in the second quarter and went 3-for-3 on extra points.
- Penalty Flags: Clemson was penalized 6 times for 68 yards, including a holding penalty on Brayden Jacobs and a personal foul on Champ Thompson.
The Ugly: Early Fumble Turned Into Scoop-and-Score
- Nightmare First Quarter: Midway through the first quarter, Cal defensive back Aiden Manutai sacked Reynolds on a drop-back, forcing a fumble at the Clemson 35-yard line. Golden Bears linebacker Kamar Mothudi scooped up the loose ball and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown, giving California a 7-0 lead.
- Turnover-Prone Opening Drives: Clemson turned the ball over twice in the first quarter alone. Prior to the scoop-and-score fumble, Reynolds threw an interception to Cal safety Isaiah Crosby on a deep pass intended for Bryant Wesco Jr.
