Clemson found an unusual route to victory Saturday at Syracuse: four field goals, a defensive touchdown and enough timely plays to leave with its sixth win.
The Tigers’ 18–13 victory improved Clemson to 6–3 overall and 4–2 in the ACC. It also produced a collection of school records, individual milestones and a winning formula Clemson hadn’t used on the road against a conference opponent in nearly three decades.
Here’s a closer look inside the numbers.
27: Hauser matches the school record
Nolan Hauser’s remarkable season reached another milestone as he went 4-for-5 on field goals, bringing his season total to 27 makes in 29 attempts.
That tied Greg Huegel’s single-season Clemson record of 27 field goals, established in 2015.
Hauser connected from 32, 36, 37 and 54 yards. His only miss came from 57 yards, ending a career-best streak of 15 consecutive makes—the third-longest streak in school history.
His opening field goal also extended his streak of consecutive games with a made field goal to 18, matching Huegel’s school record across the 2015–16 seasons.
54: One kick, two more records
Hauser’s 54-yard field goal in the third quarter did more than add three points.
It was his fourth field goal of at least 50 yards this season, breaking the Clemson single-season record he had shared with B.T. Potter, Richard Jackson and Chris Gardocki.
The kick was also his 13th make from at least 40 yards, surpassing Potter’s school record of 12 in 2021.
Hauser became the first Clemson kicker on record with three or more field goals in four consecutive games. He even contributed to the field-position battle, producing punts of 57 and 52 yards.
1997: A rare ACC road result
Saturday marked Clemson’s first victory without an offensive touchdown since its 16–7 win at South Carolina in 2023.
Against an ACC opponent, the Tigers hadn’t won that way since beating Louisville 23–17 in 2014.
Finding the last such conference road victory required going back even further: Clemson’s 19–17 win at NC State in 1997.
The offense supplied enough movement to create scoring opportunities, while Hauser and the defense supplied all 18 points.
22: Lawson delivers Clemson’s only touchdown
Jahiem Lawson provided the game’s biggest scoring play when he returned a fumble 22 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter.
Kourtney Kelly forced the turnover on his first sack as a Tiger. It was Kelly’s fifth career sack after recording four at West Georgia last season.
Lawson’s return gave Clemson its first defensive touchdown of the season and its third non-offensive touchdown, joining a punt return and a fumble return in kickoff coverage.
His impact extended beyond the scoreboard. Lawson recorded his third sack of the season and later hit Syracuse quarterback Steve Angeli as he released the pass that Ashton Hampton intercepted in the end zone during the fourth quarter.
Hampton’s interception was his second this season and fifth of his career.
4: The pass rush keeps producing
Clemson finished with three sacks, extending its streak of games with at least three to four.
The Tigers last accomplished that during a five-game stretch to close the 2022 season.
Lawson, Kelly and freshman defensive tackle Amare Adams each recorded a sack Saturday. Adams’ sack was the second of his season and career.
Clemson has also held ACC opponents to 24 or fewer points in 12 consecutive conference road games.
3: Reynolds runs into familiar company
Tait Reynolds completed 17-of-28 passes for 161 yards and added 61 rushing yards on 15 carries.
He became the first Clemson quarterback to rush for at least 60 yards in three consecutive games since Kelly Bryant in 2017.
Reynolds has also reached 40 rushing yards in four straight games, something no Clemson quarterback had done since DJ Uiagalelei in September and October of 2022.
His biggest passing play came on a 53-yard connection with Bryant Wesco Jr., just two yards short of their season-long completion against Miami.
8: Wesco joins Higgins and Tuttle
Wesco finished with six receptions for 100 yards, recording his second 100-yard receiving performance of the season.
It was the eighth of his career, tying Tee Higgins and Perry Tuttle for fifth in Clemson history.
Wesco also completed his first career pass, finding T.J. Moore for 36 yards on a second-quarter double-pass.
Moore extended his streak of consecutive games with a reception to 36, tying Jerry Butler and DeAndre Hopkins for the fourth-longest streak in school history.
85: Green makes his first start count
Jarvis Green opened his first career start with a career-long 53-yard run on the game’s first play from scrimmage.
He finished with a career-high 85 rushing yards on nine carries, averaging 9.4 yards per attempt.
On a day when Clemson never scored an offensive touchdown, Green’s opening burst helped establish the first scoring opportunity—a fitting start to a victory built on field position, defensive plays and Hauser’s dependable right foot.
