Box Score (PDF) | Notre Dame Postgame Notes

NOTRE DAME, Ind. — In the most anticipated game at Notre Dame Stadium in over a decade, the No. 4 ranked Notre Dame football team took down No. 1 Clemson, 47-40, in a double-overtime thriller. The Irish earned their ninth win in program history over an A.P. No. 1, which ties Miami for second all-time, and ended Clemson’s 36-game regular-season winning streak.

The Irish, who scored on the first legal play of the game, led the Tigers for a majority of the game, until Clemson broke through with 3:33 remaining to take a 33-26 lead.

The Fighting Irish faltered on the ensuing drive but the Notre Dame defense answered the call when the Irish needed it most, forcing a Clemson three-and-out.

With 1:48 left on the clock, Ian Book and the Irish took over on their own nine yard line. Book then led the Irish with an eight-play, 91-yard drive, highlighted by a 53-yard pass to Avery Davis to get the Irish in the red zone. Three plays later, Book connected with Davis again on a four-yard pass for a touchdown to tie the game with 22 seconds left.

Clemson tried to stymie the Irish momentum by scoring on its first play in overtime to gain the 40-33 advantage. However, the Irish responded with a four-play drive capped by a Kyren Williams three-yard rush into the endzone.

The Irish then started the second overtime with the ball. A 12-yard rush from Book, followed by a 10-yard reception by Ben Skowronek, was punctuated by another three-yard touchdown run from Williams.

With the spotlight back on the Notre Dame defense, the unit responded in a major way, recording back-to-back sacks from Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and Daelin Hayes to set up an eventual Clemson 4th-and-24. The Irish denied the ensuing passing play and earned its 23rd consecutive win at home.

The Fighting Irish defense held the Tigers to 34 rushing yards for their lowest total since 2009 while limiting Travis Etienne to his fewest yards per carry of his career (1.6).

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Kyren Williams broke the game open on the first offensive play and continued to have a strong night on the ground. He tallied his fourth 100-yard rushing game of the season after totaling 140 yards on 23 carries and three touchdowns. Ian Book’s night consisted of 22 completions on 39 attempts for 310 yards with one touchdown. Book also accumulated 64 yards on the ground.

On the defensive side of the ball, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah wrecked havoc all night long for the Irish. He recovered a fumble for his first career touchdown and forced a fumble on the very next drive in the second quarter. Owusu-Koramoah ultimately finished the night with a team-high nine tackles alongside fellow linebacker Drew White.

The Irish wasted no time getting on the scoreboard in their opening drive of the game. After a defensive holding penalty, Kyren Williams ripped off a 65-yard rush for touchdown on the first official play of the drive. The Irish took an early 7-0 lead just 33 seconds into the game. Notre Dame’s next drive ended with a 24-yard field goal from Jonathan Doerer to increase the lead to 10-0.

Clemson responded with a four-play scoring drive that ended with a 53-yard touchdown reception by Cornell Powell to bring the Tigers within three at 10-7 with 4:11 remaining in the first quarter.

After the Irish and Tigers traded field goals, Notre Dame’s defense made two big plays in the second quarter. Owusu-Koramoah busted into the backfield to scoop up a Clemson fumble and return it 23-yards to the endzone for his first career touchdown and increased the Irish lead to 20-10. On Clemson’s next drive, Owusu-Koramoah forced a fumble and Nick McCloud came up with the recovery in Clemson territory. Doerer nailed a 45-yard field goal, his third of the half, and the Irish led 23-10 late in the second quarter.

Next, Clemson rallied with 13 unanswered points and a 10-yard touchdown pass to Davis Allen, which tied the game at 23 with 4:12 left in the third quarter.

Heading into the fourth quarter tied at 23, Ian Book connected with Michael Mayer for a 29-yard pass on 3-and-11 to keep the drive alive. Doerer nailed his fourth field goal of the game from 44 yards out to regain the lead 26-23. Clemson continued the back-and-forth affair on the next drive after a 30-yard field goal from Potter knotted it up again at 26-all.

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Up next, the Irish take their undefeated streak on the road to Chestnut Hill to take on the Boston College Eagles. Next Saturday’s game time between the Irish and Eagles is still to be determined and will be announced on Sunday.

🎥 GAME HIGHLIGHTS

🏈 4TH QUARTER and OT

🏈 3RD QUARTER

🏈 2ND QUARTER

🏈 1ST QUARTER

🏈 PRE-GAME

Lee Corso picks the Irish to win tonight’s game.

NBC will have live coverage this Saturday as the Notre Dame Fighting Irish face off against the Clemson Tigers. Fans can see it all in spectacular high definition beginning at 7:00pm ET via NBC Sports online at NBCSports.com/Live, or through the NBC Sports app.

GAMEDAY MAGAZINE

Notre Dame vs. Clemson | November 7, 2020  

Play Coca Cola Play Live @ Notre Dame at halftime during tonight’s game for your chance to win Notre Dame Gear for top scores! Practice up now and get ready! Download or open the Notre Dame Fighting Irish app to play!

📷 PHOTO GALLERY