CLEMSON, S.C. — Clemson (3-2, 2-1 ACC) fell to No. 4/4 Miami (5-0, 3-0 ACC), 41-13, on Saturday night in Memorial Stadium.
Tyler Brown caught 10 passes for 76 yards, and Bryant Wesco Jr. hauled in nine balls for a career-best 152 yards to lead the Tigers offensively. Freshman quarterback Tait Reynolds completed 29-of-44 passes for 295 yards, all career highs. The Tigers outgained the Hurricanes, 295-227, through the air, holding Miami to 134.1 yards below its season passing average.
Corey Myrick led Clemson with eight tackles, while linebackers Sammy Brown and Jeremiah Alexander each added seven. Jahiem Lawson and Andy Burburija each contributed a sack.
Miami struck first on a 61-yard touchdown reception by Cooper Barkate and a successful kick by Jake Weinberg, giving Miami an early 7-0 lead.
Clemson appeared to draw close to even when defensive end London Merritt forced an apparent Darien Mensah fumble that Corey Myrick returned 77 yards for a score. However, the play was ruled an incomplete pass upon review.
After the overturn, Clemson’s defense was able to hold Miami to a 50-yard field goal after a sack by Burburija, the first of his NCAA career. Weinberg’s field goal extended Miami’s lead to 10-0 with 3:11 remaining in the first quarter.
Reynolds led the Tigers down the field in a nine-play, 45-yard drive highlighted by a key third-down pass to Wesco for nine yards. Clemson kicker Nolan Hauser made a 48-yard field goal to get the Tigers on the board and end the first quarter with the score 10-3.
Miami moved its lead to 17-3 early in the second quarter on a 34-yard touchdown run by quarterback Darian Mensah. On the play, Mensah scrambled for 32 yards but fumbled at the Clemson two-yard line. However, he was able to recover the fumble in the end zone for the score.
Clemson defense forced punts on Miami’s two remaining possessions of the first half, and the Tigers ended the half with a 16-play, 75-yard drive that ended in another successful Hauser field goal from 29 yards. The drive included 74 passing yards for Reynolds and made the score 17-6 heading into halftime.
The Tigers defense opened the second half with a fourth-down stop on Clemson’s own 33-yard line when Ashton Hampton broke up a pass intended for Miami’s Malachi Toney to give the Tigers back. Clemson drove 44 yards on its ensuing possession to the Miami 17-yard line but was stopped on downs.
Miami took the resulting possession 83 yards in 14 plays, culminating with a two-yard Mark Fletcher Jr. rushing touchdown. Shortly after, Weinberg added another field goal to extend the Hurricanes advantage to 27-6 with 14:49 remaining in the contest.
Reynolds connected with Wesco on a 55-yard catch and run in the fourth quarter to set the Tigers up on the Miami two-yard line. A handoff to Gideon Davidson resulted in a Tiger touchdown. The successful PAT by Hauser cut the deficit to 27-13 with 12:09 left to play.
Fletcher’s second rushing touchdown of the game and a JJ Dunnigan pick-six on a desperation fourth-down throw brought the final score to 41-13.
Clemson will have an open date next week before returning to action on Saturday, Oct. 17, when the Tigers host the Charleston Southern Buccaneers at Memorial Stadium. The kickoff time and presenting television network are still to be announced; ticket information for that Military Appreciation Day contest can be found at ClemsonTigers.com/FootballTickets.