Clemson survives Syracuse upset in nail-biter: College football media reacts
By Scott Rogust
The Clemson Tigers avoided an upset by the Syracuse Orange to maintain their undefeated season.
Week 8 of the college football season featured one huge game to kick off the Saturday slate of games. That contest was between the No. 5 Clemson Tigers and the No. 14 Syracuse Orange, both of whom were undefeated to start the year.
Syracuse actually held a lead as high as 21-7 over Clemson near the end of the second quarter. But then, Tigers head coach opted to bench starting quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei in favor of Cade Klubnik, freshman and five-star recruit.
That move turned out to be a move to shift the momentum, as the team came back to defeat Syracuse 27-21.
College football media reacted to Clemson holding on to maintain their undefeated season, and also to fans running onto the field after the win.
Clemson hangs on to defeat Syracuse: College football media reacts
Pinned tweet: Clemson fans go onto the field after every game. This is not a special or new thing.
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) October 22, 2022
Syracuse led 21-10 in the second half before a late-hit personal foul extended a Clemson drive and ultimately decided its fate.
— Brad Crawford (@BCrawford247) October 22, 2022
Eagerly awaiting “I can’t believe Clemson is storming the field for winning THAT” Twitter.
— Andy Staples (@Andy_Staples) October 22, 2022
They meet at the paw every game.
Clemson is going to go undefeated this year and it is completely an indictment on the quality of play in the Atlantic Coast Conference this year.
— Shehan Jeyarajah (@ShehanJeyarajah) October 22, 2022
Never heard an announcer crew so disgusted with the officials and a coaching decision all at the same time.
— SEC Mike (@MichaelWBratton) October 22, 2022
That Clemson-Syracuse crew was not having it! 😂
Clemson survives. Wow.
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) October 22, 2022
Sean McDonough: "Sean Tucker out of the witness protection program for the first down."
— Seth Emerson (@SethWEmerson) October 22, 2022
Calling it saltily like the Syracuse alum he is.
Uiagalelei had a rough start, as he turned the football over a total of three times in the game. The third, being an interception in the third quarter, caused Swinney to send Uiagalelei to the bench and to throw Klubnik on the field.
On the very first drive with Klubnik, trailing 21-10, the team faced a third-and-25, where the freshman ran for 10 yards. However, Clemson was given the first down after a Syracuse defensive lineman Elijah Fuentes-Cundiff was assessed a personal foul for hitting Klubnik late after stepping out of bounds.
That helped extend the drive, ending with Phil Mafah running for a one-yard touchdown, cutting their deficit to 21-16.
After forcing a three-and-out for the Orange, the Tigers took a 24-21 lead after a 50-yard touchdown run by Will Shipley.
Syracuse had the chance to walk out of Memorial Stadium with a win by scoring a touchdown in their final drive of the game. Quarterback Garrett Shrader attempted to throw a pass to Oronde Gadsen II, but he was surrounded by three Clemson defenders. Safety R.J. Mickens jumped in front of Gadsen to intercept the pass and clinch the victory for Clemson.
Klubnik completed two of four passes for 19 yards.
Clemson may have turned the ball over four times, but Syracuse’s lone interception turned out to be the ultimate difference maker.
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