Florida’s Miami Hurricanes pulled off a stunning upset victory against the Clemson Tigers in a thrilling double-overtime Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) game. Led by freshman quarterback Emory Williams in his first career start, the Hurricanes triumphed 28-20 in Miami Gardens, Florida.
The game reached a dramatic climax on a crucial fourth-and-goal play from the one-yard line when Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik was sacked by Corey Flagg, sealing the Hurricanes’ victory. This win marks Miami’s first triumph over Clemson since 2010 and ends a four-game losing streak where they were outscored by an overwhelming margin of 178-30.
Miami played without their star quarterback, Tyler Van Dyke, who was sidelined with a leg injury, as well as starting running back Henry Parrish Jr. Despite these absences, Williams stepped up and showcased his talent, completing 24 of 33 passes for 151 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. The Hurricanes’ rushing attack was also formidable, accumulating 211 yards on the ground.
On the other side, Clemson’s standout performer was 6-foot-6 tight end Jake Briningstool, who had an exceptional game with five catches for 126 yards and two touchdowns. Klubnik, despite his strong numbers of 18 completions on 34 attempts for 314 yards and two touchdowns, was intercepted once and fumbled twice, losing one.
The game got off to a frenetic start with two goal-line fumbles in quick succession. First, Clemson’s Will Shipley fumbled just before reaching the end zone, with Miami’s James Williams recovering for a touchback. Then, Miami’s Brashard Smith broke free for an 80-yard run, only to be stripped just before scoring. Fortunately for the Hurricanes, receiver Jacolby George hustled down the field to recover the loose ball, resulting in a touchdown. This play marked the longest run allowed by Clemson in 14 years.
Clemson managed to level the score at 7-7 in the second quarter when Klubnik connected with Briningstool on a 32-yard touchdown pass, reaching over the 6-foot-2 linebacker K.J. Cloyd. The first half ended with the score tied, but Miami came agonizingly close to taking the lead with a potential safety. Linebacker Francisco Mauigoa sacked Klubnik in the end zone, but the officials ruled him down at the one-yard line.
In the third quarter, Clemson took a 10-7 lead with Jonathan Weitz’s 41-yard field goal. Before that, Klubnik had fumbled on a strip-sack by Te’Cory Couch, but Shipley managed to recover the loose ball. Clemson extended their lead to 17-14 with 2:01 remaining in the third quarter when Briningstool made his second touchdown catch, a 19-yard reception over James Williams. Although initially called incomplete, a video review showed that Briningstool had indeed stayed in bounds.
Miami fought back in the fourth quarter, as Williams threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Colbie Young on a crucial third-and-3 situation, bringing the score to 17-14 with 8 minutes left to play. The Hurricanes then tied the game 17-17 with just 1:52 remaining on Andres Borregales’ 38-yard field goal. Williams delivered on two crucial third-down passes during that drive, converting them into gains of 16 and 25 yards to Young.
In the first overtime period, both teams traded field goals. The tension continued to rise as the game progressed to a second overtime. It was here that Ajay Allen emerged as the hero for the Hurricanes, scoring eight crucial points on a 3-yard touchdown run and the resulting two-point conversion run. Clemson’s final attempt on fourth-and-goal from the one-yard line ended in disaster as Klubnik was sacked, securing Miami’s thrilling victory.
This triumph holds extra significance for Miami as it represents their first ACC home win under coach Mario Cristobal in six attempts. The Hurricanes’ resilience and determination proved effective against the favored Clemson Tigers, setting them on a positive trajectory moving forward in the season.
