By : Sabri Haidar
(Photo/Sabri Haidar-The Mojo Network)
The Louisville Cardinals achieved a season milestone, claiming their first-ever win over No. 11 Clemson with a decisive 33-21 victory, ending their 0-8 drought against the Tigers. Despite recent struggles that knocked them out of ACC title contention, the Cardinals celebrated this breakthrough in a game full of standout moments.
Freshman running back Isaac Brown had a career night, rushing for 151 yards and capping his performance with a clutch fourth-quarter touchdown. Quarterback Tyler Shough put the Cardinals ahead to stay with a thrilling second-quarter touchdown that featured an acrobatic somersault into the end zone.
"This is special," said senior defensive lineman Ashton Gillotte. "I think everyone has been waiting for this. It feels good to make our mark on history."
The Cardinals (6-3, 4-2 ACC) dominated from start to finish. Brown and Shough spearheaded the offense, while Louisville's defense shut down Clemson on crucial plays. The Cardinals blocked two field goals and successfully recovered two onside kicks in the fourth quarter to seal their victory.
Head coach Jeff Brohm praised his team for their resilience. "It hasn't been perfect, it hasn't been easy, but we kept grinding," Brohm said. "Our players and coaches fought all week, and guys continue to step up."
Louisville had aspired to return to the ACC title game this year and make a playoff run, especially after starting the season 3-0. But they hit a rough patch, losing three of their next five games. However, Saturday’s performance showed they still have a lot to play for.
“This is a tough road environment, and Clemson’s a good team,” Brohm noted. “But we made plays, kept up the tempo, got stops, and played sound defense.”
Brown’s impressive game marked his fourth 100+ yard rushing performance this season, bringing him to 847 yards, just shy of Lamar Jackson’s freshman record of 960 yards set in 2015. Brown’s 45-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter squashed any hope of a Clemson comeback.
Shough’s second-quarter 4-yard run, complete with a flip into the end zone, gave Louisville a 10-7 lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Kicker Brock Travelstead also matched his career-high with four field goals, helping the Cardinals qualify for a bowl game.
Clemson (6-2, 5-1 ACC), meanwhile, saw its ACC title hopes take a serious hit. Once among four undefeated teams in the ACC, the Tigers now need help to reach the championship game.
“We don’t control our destiny anymore, which is sad,” said Clemson safety R.J. Mickens. “But we’re going to show up and do our best no matter our record.”
Louisville’s defense, shaky in recent weeks, showed up big on Saturday, even stopping Clemson on a critical fourth-and-1 in the third quarter.
In addition to the victory, Cardinals linebacker Ben Perry had a scare in the first half, lying on the field before being carted off. Brohm had no immediate update on Perry’s condition, though Perry was later seen celebrating on social media.
Reflecting on his airborne touchdown, Shough said he went for it because he saw defenders closing in. “I thought, ‘Either I truck him or I jump. I’m just going to jump here,’” he shared. “It ended up working out, and it was fun.”
Next up: Louisville heads to Stanford on November 16 after a bye week, while Clemson travels to face Virginia Tech next Saturday.