The ghosts of Bowl Championship Series/New Year's Six bowls past haunt the Fighting Irish once again at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Notre Dame fell to Clemson 30-3 in the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic on Saturday evening.
In his postgame press conference, Irish head coach Brian Kelly said that he and his team were disappointed by the loss.
“We came here to win a football game, and we did not do the things necessary to beat a very good team,” Kelly said.
After a valiant 3-3 battle in the first quarter, lackluster ball protection cost Notre Dame the opportunity of moving onto the National Championship Game.
Clemson’s Clelin Ferrell recovered a fumble committed by Irish quarterback Ian Book in the first quarter. The turnover set up a 31-yard drive that would produce a 40-yard field goal made by Greg Huegel.
Notre Dame's only score came in response to Huegel’s field goal. Book went 4-for-5 for 37 yards and recorded 11 rushing yards on that drive.
Irish kicker Justin Yoon tied the game at 3-3 with a 28-yard field goal with 4:31 left in the first quarter.
The stalemate ended in the second quarter as the Irish secondary gave up its first big pass play of the season when Clemson freshman wide receiver Justyn Ross scored a 52-yard touchdown reception from freshman quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
Notre Dame lineman Jerry Tillery blocked the extra point attempt, which was the lone Irish highlight of the period.
The Irish defense lost their footing in the second quarter when key defensive players Julian Love, Julian Okwara, and Alohi Gilman were injured.
Love’s replacement, cornerback Donte Vaughn became a vulnerable target for the Clemson passing game. The Tigers scored 20 unanswered points in the second quarter alone.
Clemson’s Ross scored his second touchdown of the game with a 42-yard reception with 3:12 remaining in the first half.
Wide receiver Tee Higgins would go on to score on a one-handed catch that was deflected by Donte Vaughn with two seconds remaining in the first half. The 19-yard score gave Clemson a 23-3 halftime lead.
The Notre Dame defense allowed a combined 61 yards during Clemson’s second quarter scoring spree.
Coach Kelly described the Tiger offense as " opportunistic."
Love did return in the third quarter from his head injury. However, it was too little, too late as Clemson running back Travis Etienne ran for a 62-yard score to make it 30-3 with 2:04 left in the third period.
“They made the plays necessary to win in a game of this fashion,” Kelly said.
Even without suspended defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, Clemson successfully held Notre Dame’s offensive weapon running back Dexter Williams, and wide receiver Miles Boykin from making key plays for the Irish offense.
Williams finished the night with 54 rushing yards on 16 carries. Boykin led the Irish in receiving yards with 69.
In addition to the first quarter fumble, Book was sacked six times and threw 160 passing yards. Book completed 17 passes out of 34 attempts and rushed for 30 yards with one interception in the third quarter.
Trevor Lawrence completed 27 out of 39 pass attempts with three touchdown passes for 327 passing yards.
The Tigers outrushed the Irish 211-88. Etienne led the Tigers in rushing with 109 yards on 14 carries.
“I feel terrible for our seniors,” Kelly said. “They put us on the brink of a championship. It's now up to everybody else that has eligibility in that locker room to get this football team to a championship.”
By Brenden Curry