Tigers Drop Back-And-Forth Game to Duke, 46-45

Tigers Fall in Close 46-45 Loss to Duke

Clemson (3-5, 2-4 ACC) gained 560 total yards but fell short in a tight game against Duke (5-3, 4-1 ACC) on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

Game Summary

The Tigers led by seven points after a 75-yard catch-and-run touchdown by T.J. Clemson forced Duke to punt on the following drive but later punted back with 5:19 remaining, pinning Duke deep at their own six-yard line. Duke responded with a 94-yard drive over 11 plays, converting two crucial fourth downs and a two-point conversion to take the lead with just 40 seconds left.

Clemson’s final attempt to win the game fell short, handing the victory to Duke.

Key Performances

Quarterback Cade Klubnik completed 27 of 36 passes for 385 yards and two touchdowns.
Antonio Williams led Clemson with 142 receiving yards on 10 catches, scoring one receiving and one rushing touchdown.
Running back Adam Randall rushed for 89 yards and two touchdowns.
Defensive highlights included sacks by Peter Woods and Jahiem Lawson.
Linebacker Sammy Brown recorded 10 tackles, with Khalil Barnes adding nine.

Early Duke Momentum

Duke took an early 7-0 lead when quarterback Darien Mensah connected with Que’Sean Brown on a 19-yard touchdown pass with 10:08 left in the first quarter.

The competitive back-and-forth battle ultimately ended in a narrow victory for Duke.

Author's summary: A thrilling, closely contested game saw Clemson's strong offense fall just short as Duke clinched a last-minute 46-45 victory with key fourth-down conversions and a two-point play.

Clemson University Athletics — 2025-11-02

Tigers Fall in Close 46-45 Loss to Duke

Game Summary

Key Performances

Early Duke Momentum

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