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

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

The Tigers held a seven-point lead after a 75-yard catch-and-run touchdown by T.J. Clemson forced a punt on Duke’s next drive but later punted from its own territory with 5:19 left, giving Duke possession at its six-yard line. Over 11 plays and 4:39, Duke drove 94 yards, converting two critical fourth downs and a two-point conversion to seize the lead.

Clemson’s effort to mount a game-winning drive stalled, handing Duke the victory.

Key Player 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 and one rushing.
Adam Randall rushed for 89 yards and added 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.

“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.”

Despite Clemson's strong offensive showing, Duke's resilience in the final minutes clinched a narrow victory.

Author’s summary: Clemson displayed impressive offense but Duke’s late-game execution overcame a tight contest, securing their 46-45 win.

Clemson University Athletics — 2025-11-02