The Notes: No. 9 Clemson 40, Miami 10

Clemson has now outscored Miami 178-30 in its four-game winning streak against the Hurricanes.

Clemson held Miami to 98 total yards, the third-lowest single-game total in Miami history, trailing the Hurricanes’ 22-yard performance against Kentucky in 1951 and their 87-yard effort against Notre Dame in 1965.

The 98 yards were Clemson’s fewest allowed since holding South Carolina State to 44 yards in 2014. It was Clemson’s first time holding an ACC opponent below 100 yards since 2009 (54 vs. Boston College).

Miami only ran 42 offensive plays, the fewest by a Clemson opponent since 1992 (North Carolina, 42). It marked only the eighth time since 1954 that a Clemson opponent has run 42 or fewer plays in a game.

Clemson recorded 447 total yards, including 240 passing yards and 207 rushing yards. It was Clemson’s 58th game under Dabo Swinney in which it has reached 200 yards in both categories. Clemson is 58-0 in those contests.

Clemson reached 400 yards of offense in consecutive games for the second time this season (vs. Furman and Louisiana Tech).

Clemson held a 27-6 edge in first downs. The plus-21 margin in first downs is Clemson’s largest since producing 22 more first downs than Georgia Tech in 2020.

Clemson’s six first downs allowed were its fewest since holding Wake Forest to five first downs in 2019.

Clemson converted 14-of-19 on third downs (73.7 percent), Clemson’s highest third-down percentage since 2018, when Clemson converted 87.5 percent against Louisville.

Clemson possessed the ball for 38:15, Clemson’s longest time of possession since the Tigers’ previous game against Miami (38:23 in 2020).

Clemson held a 24-0 lead at halftime, Clemson’s first time holding an opponent scoreless through two quarters since shutting out South Carolina last season. 

Clemson outgained Miami, 228-8, in total yardage in the first half and held a 15-1 advantage in first downs in that span.

Quarterback DJ Uiagalelei completed 22-of-34 passes for 227 yards with two passing touchdowns.

Uiagalelei also recorded career highs in rushing attempts (17) and rushing yards (89) and added a rushing touchdown.

The game was Uiagalelei’s fifth of the season with at least 200 passing yards and at least 50 rushing yards. Uiagalelei entered the day as one of six players in the country to reach those marks in at least four games this season (Drake Maye, Brennan Armstrong, Bo Nix, Hendon Hooker and Spencer Sanders).

Uiagalelei improved to 21-5 as a starter. He tied Steve Fuller (21-11-3 from 1957-78) and Mike Eppley (21-5-1 from 1980-84) for the eighth-most wins by a Clemson starting quarterback since World War II.

With his two passing touchdowns Saturday, Uiagalelei (35) tied Nealon Greene (35 from 1994-97) for seventh-most career touchdown passes in Clemson history.

Uiagalelei (21) entered the Top 10 in single-season passing touchdowns in Clemson history by tying Woodrow Dantzler's 2001 season and Charlie Whitehurst's 2003 campaign (21 each).

With his 18th completion of the game, Uiagalelei (504) became the sixth player in Clemson history to reach 500 career pass completions.

During the contest, Uiagalelei (2,406) surpassed his 2,246 passing yards from 2021 to set a new single-season career high for passing yardage.

Uiagalelei rushed for an eight-yard touchdown on Clemson’s second drive, adding to his single-season career high with his sixth rushing touchdown of the season.

Uiagalelei has now rushed for a touchdown in back-to-back games for the first time since his freshman season against Boston College and Notre Dame in 2020.

Clemson has now scored at least one rushing touchdown in 65 of its 66 games since the start of the 2018 season. Clemson’s 65 games with a rushing touchdown in that span are the most in the nation.

Clemson opened the game with a 12-play, 75-yard scoring drive that culminated with a seven-yard touchdown pass from Uiagalelei to tight end Davis Allen. Clemson has scored on its opening drive in eight of its 11 games this season.

With his 11th career touchdown reception, Allen passed Bennie Cunningham (10 from 1972-75) for sole possession of the fifth-most touchdown catches by a tight end in Clemson history. 

Allen’s fourth touchdown catch of the season tied his single-season career high in touchdown receptions (four in 2020).

Allen (32) set a new single-season career high in receptions, passing his 28 in 2021. He has now posted the first 30-catch season by a Clemson tight end since 2016 (46, Jordan Leggett).

Briningstool recorded a 49-yard fourth-quarter reception that set up a Clemson touchdown. The 49-yard reception was a career long for Briningstool.

Tight end Luke Price recorded his first career touchdown reception on a three-yard pass from Uiagalelei in the second quarter. It was his first reception of the season and the sixth reception in the career of Price, who has been used primarily as a short-yardage blocking specialist for much of his career since transitioning from linebacker in 2019.

Running back Will Shipley rushed 17 times for 61 yards with a touchdown.

Shipley recorded a three-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, his 13th rushing touchdown of the season and the 24th of his career.

Shipley has now rushed for a touchdown in four straight games and has scored on the ground in nine of Clemson’s 11 games this season.

Running back Kobe Pace returned from injury and scored his third rushing touchdown of the season on a one-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

Wide receiver Cole Turner made his collegiate debut and caught his first pass on a nine-yard third-down reception for a first down.

Clemson completed passes to 12 different receivers, its most since completing passes to 13 different receivers against UConn in 2021.

Clemson’s five sacks tied its season high set against Syracuse.

Clemson has now recorded at least four sacks in consecutive games for the first time since a four-game streak against Florida State, Louisville, UConn and Wake Forest a year ago.

Linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. recorded his first full sack of the season in the first quarter. The 15-yard sack on third down forced a Miami punt.

Safety Jalyn Phillips recorded the game’s first takeaway, intercepting a pass that had been batted by safety R.J. Mickens.

The interception was Phillips’ first of the season and the second of his career. The interception was his first since 2020 against Syracuse.

Defensive end K.J. Henry recorded his third sack of the season in the third quarter.

Cornerback Toriano Pride Jr. recorded the first sack of his career in the third quarter, dropping Miami quarterback Jacurri Brown for a safety.

The safety by Pride was Clemson’s first since Oct. 31, 2020, when Bryan Bresee forced Boston College’s Phil Jurkovec into an intentional grounding in the end zone.

Linebacker Trenton Simpson ended a Miami drive with a third-down sack in the fourth quarter, Simpson’s first full sack of the season.

Later in the quarter, Simpson added his second sack of the game, forcing a fumble that was recovered by defensive tackle Tré Williams. The forced fumble was Simpson’s second of the season.

Simpson’s 2.0 sacks tied his career high set at Louisville in 2021.

Potter made his 51st career start at placekicker, pulling him one shy of the Clemson record at that position set by Chandler Catanzaro (52 from 2010-13).

Potter recorded his 70th career field goal on a 32-yard kick to end the first half. Potter joined Nelson Welch (72) as the only players in Clemson history to kick 70 career field goals.

Clemson faced Miami Head Coach Mario Cristobal for the first time. He became the fifth different coach Clemson has faced in its last five games against Miami (Randy Shannon, Al Golden, Mark Richt, Manny Diaz and Cristobal). Clemson improved to 42-5 since 2011 when facing an opposing head coach for the first time.

All of Clemson’s seniors were designated as captains for the contest. Tight end Davis Allen, defensive tackle Tyler Davis, defensive end K.J. Henry and offensive tackle Jordan McFadden were selected from that group to represent the Tigers at the coin toss.