admin
Clemson came up short against SMU on Saturday, falling 35-24 at Memorial Stadium as the Tigers’ struggles against Power 4 competition continued. The loss marked Clemson’s fifth straight defeat to a Power 4 opponent and its third home loss of the season, something that hasn’t happened since 2001. The Tigers haven’t beaten a Power 4 team at home in a full year, dating back to last October’s win over Virginia.
Freshman quarterback Christopher Vizzina, starting in place of the injured Cade Klubnik, gave a determined effort and put together a solid outing despite the loss. Vizzina completed 29 of 42 passes for 317 yards and three touchdowns, all through the air. Two of those went to T.J. Moore, who caught a 32-yard score in the second quarter and a 62-yarder down the sideline midway through the third. Moore finished with five catches for 124 yards and two touchdowns. Vizzina’s third scoring strike came late in the fourth quarter on a fourth-and-21 play, hitting tight end Tristan Smith for a 23-yard touchdown to bring the Tigers within five points. That drive was set up by an interception from freshman defensive back Ricardo Jones, but the comeback attempt ended there as SMU ran out the clock.
While Vizzina kept Clemson competitive, the defense had no answers when it mattered most. Each time the Tigers scored, SMU responded with a touchdown of its own. Mustang quarterback Kevin Jennings threw for 290 yards and two touchdowns, including a pair of backbreaking connections with receiver Jordan Hudson. Jennings found Hudson for a 70-yard touchdown in the first quarter and later for a 26-yard completion that sealed the game in the closing minutes. Clemson’s secondary also committed a costly pass interference penalty on fourth down that extended a late SMU drive.
SMU’s ground attack took control in the second half, rushing for 102 yards after managing just 37 before the break. The Tigers, on the other hand, managed only 35 rushing yards on the night, averaging less than three yards per carry. Injuries also mounted as left tackle Tristan Leigh and wide receiver Bryant Wesco Jr. both exited the game, while left guard Collin Sadler was carted off in the fourth quarter. Clemson will now enter its bye week with a 3-4 record overall and 2-3 in ACC play before returning to Death Valley to face Duke on November 1.
Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X (formerly known as Twitter), and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions
#Clemson #Football #drops #game #falls #SMU #Mustangs
