Clemson, where were you when we needed you?

The nation’s No. 1 team lost that ranking after falling in double overtime at Notre Dame, where the Tigers never led for about 56 minutes of regulation. They eventually went ahead and missed a couple of chances to close the deal and stay unbeaten.

Clemson’s first regular-season loss since 2017 probably won’t cost it a place in the College Football Playoff, as long as the Tigers win out. After all, they were playing without COVID-sidelined superstar Trevor Lawrence and the loss was to a fourth-ranked opponent on the road in overtime. So there.

What it may have done is set up a widely anticipated rematch with Notre Dame in the ACC championship game on December 19 in Charlotte. The winner of that match-up will likely go on to the College Football Playoff.

Had Clemson pulled out the classic thriller in South Bend, Carolina had a chance to knock off the Irish on November 28 in Chapel Hill, beat Miami to win the tie-breaker for second place and move on to face Clemson at Bank of America Stadium.

But, noooo, just when we were counting on Clemson, it didn’t happen. After the Tigers drove 74 yards to go ahead 33-26 with 3½ minutes left, they held the Irish in the shadow of their own goal line and took over. But they went three and out, giving the ball back to Notre Dame for one last shot at tying the game. The Irish cashed in.

Clemson scored first in overtime, but Notre Dame tied it up and then scored the go-ahead TD. The freshman quarterback replacing Lawrence, whose name I will not even try to pronounce, was sacked twice and faced a fourth-and-24 on the last play. Game over.

Carolina now needs help to get to Charlotte. Either Clemson has to lose again, and it’s somewhat possible with Florida State, Pitt and Virginia Tech left to play, or the Irish must lose at Boston College this Saturday and again to the Tar Heels in Kenan Stadium.

All that seems like a long shot now. It was set up so perfectly, if Clemson could have pulled it out at Notre Dame and maybe avoided a rematch for the ACC title. Now, it seems more like a perfect pass.

 

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