How it happened: No. 20 Louisville controlled own fortune in 20-19 loss to Clemson
For the first time since returning to his alma mater, Louisville has lost back-to-back home games under Jeff Brohm, after falling 20-19 to Clemson on Friday.
Clemson may have won the game, but Louisville also lost it, and really, in an unfathomable way. The Cardinals were their own opponent on Friday, totaling 10 penalties for 98 yards, including three unsportsmanlike conduct calls. Louisville’s Duke Watson also fumbled at his own 25-yard line, when the Tigers punched it in the very next play. In the end, it was also one of the poorer special teams performances of the season, with Cooper Ranvier and Nick Keller combining for two missed field goals (50 and 46) and a missed extra point from Ranvier in the first half.
All piled together, to result in a one-point home loss on national television to a sub-.500 Clemson team.
The Tigers’ Cade Klubnik threw for just 187 yards on 22-of-34 passing, and as a whole, the Clemson offense gained just 308 yards to Louisville’s 385.
Uncharacteristically, the Louisville defense gave up 121 rushing yards, with 105 of them coming from a 235-pound senior, Adam Randall, who also added two touchdowns on the ground. The Cards stuffed a Clemson fourth-down try at the goal line with a fumble recovered by Jordan Guerad, and the Tigers converted just 1-of-13 third downs. On top of how well the U of L defense played on critical downs, Louisville also caught a break on a bad Clemson snap on a punt attempt. The Cards took over inside the Clemson 30, but went negative five yards in three plays before Keller missed the go-ahead field goal with a little over two minutes to play.
Louisville quarterback Miller Moss was 19-of-27 passing for 212 yards, also running in a touchdown from the one-yard line. Running back Keyjuan Brown continues to run over defenders, as his 135 yards on 15 carries are career bests. Brown’s counterpart, Watson, ran it 11 times for 39 yards.
Despite having two of them come in the final minute, Chris Bell led the Cardinals with five catches for 79 yards, and Caullin Lacy also added 60 yards receiving.
Linebacker Stanquan Clark made his first appearance since having surgery on his ankle, after an injury he suffered in week two versus James Madison. He tied Antonio Watts for the team lead in tackles with seven, and both added a tackle for loss.
Again, it was the Cardinals who entered the game in control of their own destiny, but drove it into the ground themselves.
Louisville drops to 7-3 overall and 4-3 in the ACC, effectively being eliminated from ACC title and College Football Playoff contention. The Cardinals travel to face SMU next weekend in Dallas, with game time yet to be announced.
