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

Clemson (3-5, 2-4 ACC) gained 560 yards of total offense but lost 46-45 to Duke (5-3, 4-1 ACC) at Memorial Stadium on Saturday after allowing a touchdown and two-point conversion with 40 seconds remaining.

Game Summary

Clemson held a seven-point lead thanks to a 75-yard catch-and-run touchdown by T.J. The Tigers forced a punt on Duke’s next drive but then punted back with 5:19 left, pinning Duke at its own six-yard line. The Blue Devils responded with a 94-yard, 11-play drive in 4:39, including two key fourth-down conversions and a two-point conversion to take the lead. Clemson’s final drive stalled, sealing the Blue Devils’ victory.

Key Offensive Performances

Quarterback Cade Klubnik completed 27 of 36 passes for 385 yards and two touchdowns.
Antonio Williams led with 142 receiving yards on 10 catches, scoring two touchdowns (one receiving, one rushing).
Adam Randall added 89 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

Defensive Highlights

Peter Woods and Jahiem Lawson each recorded a sack.
Linebacker Sammy Brown led with 10 tackles, followed by Khalil Barnes with nine.

Early Duke Advantage

"Duke jumped to a 7-0 lead on its first possession when quarterback Darien Mensah connected with Que’Sean Brown on a 19-yard touchdown pass with 10:08 on the clock."

The closely contested game saw multiple lead changes before Duke secured the win late.

Summary: Despite Clemson’s strong offensive output and key plays, late-game execution by Duke secured a narrow 46-45 victory.

Clemson University Athletics — 2025-11-02