# 7 Tennessee 17 vs. #10 Clemson 20 - College Football Tournament
First Round, Charlotte
Charlotte, NC — In the heart of Charlotte, the #7
Tennessee Volunteers faced off against the #10 Clemson Tigers in a highly
anticipated College Football Tournament first-round matchup. The stage was set
at Bank of America Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers, which both
teams had become familiar with earlier in the season. With temperatures dipping to 48°F, the game
was played under a dry but crisp sky, two degrees colder than the first-round
game in Salt Lake City. The atmosphere was charged with excitement as the SEC’s
at-large team, Tennessee, battled against the ACC champion Tigers. The regional
advantage lay with Clemson, but both teams had experienced the setting of the
stadium previously.
Clemson wasted no time asserting its dominance early in the
game. On their opening drive, the Tigers worked the ball methodically down the
field, relying on the poised and efficient Cade Klubnik. He displayed his
experience from two years ago when he led Clemson to a first-round victory over
Kansas State. After a series of short passes, Klubnik found Antonio Williams
streaking across the middle of the field for a 22-yard touchdown strike at 8:14
in the first quarter. The PAT by Nolan Hauser was good, giving Clemson a 7-0
lead.
Tennessee struggled to match the tempo early, but their
defense kept them in the game, forcing a quick Clemson punt on the ensuing
drive. The Volunteers managed to chip away at Clemson’s lead, but they were
unable to capitalize on their initial opportunities. Still, with time winding
down in the second quarter, Tennessee’s special teams came through. Max
Gilbert, the reliable kicker, converted a 36-yard field goal with 6:39 left,
narrowing the Tigers' lead to 7-3.
As halftime loomed, the Volunteers found their rhythm,
making key adjustments on offense. Quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who had been
effective in the Ohio State win, found his footing in this game as well. With
just 20 seconds remaining in the half, Iamaleava showed his poise by keeping
the ball himself and punching it in for a 2-yard touchdown run, giving
Tennessee their first lead of the game, 10-7. The Volunteers went into the
break on a high note, feeling confident with the lead despite Clemson’s strong
start.
Clemson wasn’t fazed by the halftime deficit. In a quiet third quarter, the only scoring
came from two clutch field goals by Clemson’s Nolan Hauser. The first, a
32-yard attempt, tied the game at 10-10 with 3:29 left in the quarter. Later,
Hauser added another, a 33-yard field goal, extending the Tigers' lead to 13-10
with just under two minutes remaining in the quarter. These field goals were
the only points in what became a tense, defensive battle as both teams fought
for control.
In the fourth quarter, Clemson mounted a balanced drive, and
Klubnik connected with his receiver, T.J. Moore, for a touchdown pass. Moore’s
7-yard catch-and-run made it 20-10 with 11:43 to go in game, after a 3-yard run
by the Tigers. Hauser’s extra point gave Clemson a commanding 10-point
advantage.
The Volunteers, led by Iamaleava, continued to fight hard.
With their season on the line, they began putting together another solid drive.
But Clemson’s defense remained tough, stymieing Tennessee’s momentum with
multiple key stops and forcing a few unfortunate incompletions. Still,
Tennessee wasn’t about to let go of the game that easily.
With the clock winding down and just under 2 minutes to
play, Tennessee’s offense once again found success in the red zone. Iamaleava, scrambled
for a 2-yard touchdown run to bring the Volunteers within a field goal at
20-17. The Tennessee faithful held their breath.
But the relentless Clemson defense stepped up when it
mattered most. They halted Tennessee's final drive as time ran out, sealing a
hard-fought 20-17 victory. The Tigers, led by Klubnik’s steady play and
Hauser’s clutch kicking, secured their spot in the Rose Bowl, where they would
face undefeated Oregon, the top seed.
Postgame:
Clemson’s head coach, Dabo Swinney, praised his team’s
ability to weather adversity. "This game had its ups and downs, but we
came together when it counted. Cade Klubnik showed a lot of maturity today, and
our defense stepped up in the final minutes. We're going to enjoy this one, but
we know what comes next."
Tennessee’s head coach, Josh Heupel, remained upbeat despite
the loss. "We fought until the very end, and I’m proud of the way Nico led
our offense today. Our defense kept us in the game, but we just couldn’t quite
finish it. We’ll be back next year, and we’ll be stronger for this
experience."
With their win, Clemson moves on to face Oregon in the Rose
Bowl, continuing their quest for another national title. Meanwhile, Tennessee's
season ends, but with much promise for the future.
#8 Boise State 14 vs. #9 Arizona State 25 - College
Football Tournament First Round, Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City, UT — On a chilly December afternoon
in Salt Lake City, the second First Round game of the 2024-2025 College
Football Tournament saw the #8 seed Boise State Broncos face the #9 seed
Arizona State Sun Devils. The weather was favorable for December: 50 degrees
and dry, setting the stage for a high-stakes contest in front of an energized
crowd.
Arizona State, fresh off their Big XII championship, entered
the game eager to prove they belonged in the national spotlight. Meanwhile,
Boise State, the Mountain West champions, were looking to continue their strong
season and advance to the next round. The winner would move on to the Sugar
Bowl, with a chance to face the #2 seed Georgia.
Arizona State struck first, taking an early 3-0 lead with a
39-yard field goal from Carston Kieffer at 8:59 in the first quarter. Kieffer,
though inexperienced, had been thrust into the starting role after a season of
inconsistent kicking. Despite his youth and the Sun Devils’ struggles in the
kicking game, Kieffer remained steady under pressure.
Boise State’s defense played tough early, keeping the Sun
Devils from reaching the end zone. Arizona State’s offense was moving, but
Boise’s defense bent but didn’t break. Kieffer’s second field goal, this time
from 36 yards, came in the second quarter, extending the Sun Devils’ lead to
6-0.
Boise State finally responded midway through the second
quarter. The Broncos had been struggling to establish a rhythm but found a
spark with a 12-play drive led by quarterback Maddux Madsen. Madsen
orchestrated the drive with precision, setting up Tyler Crowe for an 8-yard
touchdown run to put Boise State ahead 7-6 with 8:41 left in the half. Jonah
Dalmas’ extra point gave the Broncos their first lead of the game.
Arizona State answered quickly, though, with another field
goal from Kieffer, who connected from 39 yards out to put ASU back on top 9-7
with 3:17 remaining before halftime. The Sun Devils had a chance to extend
their lead further, but the Boise defense tightened up, keeping it a
one-possession game going into halftime.
The second half started with a big play for Boise State.
Madsen launched a beautiful 53-yard touchdown pass to Matt Lauter, who outran
the Arizona State secondary for the score. Lauter’s reception capped off an
explosive drive, and with Dalmas’ extra point, the Broncos regained the lead,
14-9, with 11:38 left in the third quarter. It was a momentum-shifting moment
for Boise State, and the crowd was buzzing with excitement.
But Arizona State wasn’t done yet. With just under a minute
to go in the third quarter, the Sun Devils delivered a game-changing response.
In a surprising twist, running back Cam Skattebo threw a perfectly timed
42-yard touchdown pass to Malik McClain. Skattebo, known for his power running,
displayed impressive versatility by executing the trick play with precision.
McClain caught the ball between two defenders, fighting off the coverage as he
sprinted into the end zone for the touchdown.
The Sun Devils weren’t done there. In a critical moment,
Arizona State executed a gutsy two-point conversion, with Leavitt connecting
with Xavier Guillory to extend the lead to 17-14.
Boise State’s offense, now trailing by 3, struggled to
regain the momentum they had earlier in the game. The Broncos tried to push
forward but were unable to capitalize on their opportunities, as Arizona
State’s defense tightened up when it mattered most. With just 5 minutes left,
the Sun Devils sealed the win with a decisive touchdown.
Cam Skattebo, Arizona State’s star running back, broke free
for a huge play down the sideline. He caught a 62-yard pass from Leavitt, before
being tackled. Skattebo’s helmet was ripped off in the process, adding a
penalty on Boise State to the completion. The play set up a 2-yard touchdown
run for Skattebo, and after adding a successful two-point conversion run,
Arizona State extended their lead to 25-14.
With little time remaining, Boise State could not mount a
comeback, and Arizona State’s defense held firm. The Sun Devils sealed the
victory, advancing to the Sugar Bowl to face #2 seed Georgia in what promises
to be another tough test.
Postgame:
Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham praised his team's
resilience, especially in the second half. "We showed a lot of heart
today. Sam [Leavitt] did a great job leading us, and Cam [Skattebo] made some
huge plays when we needed them. I’m proud of the way we finished this one
out."
Boise State head coach Andy Avalos was somber but respectful
in his postgame remarks. "We had our chances, but we didn’t capitalize on
them. Arizona State made the plays when it mattered most."
Arizona State advances to the Sugar Bowl to face #2 seed
Georgia, while Boise State’s season ends in a hard-fought defeat. The Sun
Devils will now shift their focus to the next challenge, one step closer to a
potential national title.
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