Clemson entered the final 90 seconds of the fourth quarter against Pitt on Saturday afternoon with 8 total rushing yards.
But down three points and his team needing a field goal to tie or a touchdown to take the lead, junior quarterback Cade Klubnik found a hole up the middle and took off for 50 yards. Within seconds, Klubnik was in the end zone. And with the score, he kept alive Clemson’s chances of sneaking into the ACC Championship Game — and, as a result, its hopes of reaching the College Football Playoff.
The No. 20 Tigers beat Pitt 24-20 in a nailbiter that came down to the game’s final seconds. Clemson led 17-7 at halftime, but the Panthers tied the game with just over seven minutes to play and took a 20-17 lead with a 47-yard field goal with 1:36 remaining before Klubnik took over.
ICYMI – The game-winning TD‼️🤯 pic.twitter.com/ioogivBcr2
— Clemson Football (@ClemsonFB) November 16, 2024
Klubnik, who has been under a microscope for most of his Clemson career, finished the day 27-for-41 passing for 288 yards, two touchdowns and the game-winning touchdown on an afternoon when Clemson had to reshuffle almost its offensive line due to injuries.
Pitt rolled with backup quarterback Nate Yarnell, who filled in for an injured Eli Holstein and almost pulled off the victory behind his 350-yard, one-touchdown performance. His final pass — on the last play of the game — was intercepted by Tigers safety Khalil Barnes at the Clemson 2-yard line.
The Tigers, who have completed their ACC schedule with a 7-1 record, will advance to the league title game if Miami loses one of its last two games (vs. Wake Forest, at Syracuse) or SMU loses two of its final three games (Boston College, at Virginia, Cal). There is also the possibility of Clemson grabbing a spot if it is involved in a three-team tie with Miami and SMU (if one of SMU’s losses is to Virginia).
Pitt dropped to 3-3 in the ACC and will be eliminated from reaching the conference title game if SMU defeats Boston College today.
Required reading
- ACC Championship Game tiebreaker update: Who needs what to get to Charlotte
(Photo of Cade Klubnik / Getty Images)
