Clemson Stages Comeback to Thwart Troy
Clemson faces Troy 2025- 2026. Photo: Clemson IG
Clemson rallied from an early 16-point deficit to defeat Troy 27–16 on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. The Tigers (1–1) outscored the Trojans 24–0 in the second half to secure the win and bounce back from a season-opening loss to LSU.
Game Breakdown
First Half Struggles: Troy surprised Clemson early, capping a swift five-play opening drive with a 44-yard touchdown pass from Goose Crowder to Tray Taylor. The Trojans extended their lead with a 37-yard field goal and a 4-yard interception return for a touchdown by T.J. Thompson. Clemson managed only a 25-yard field goal before halftime, trailing 16–3.
Second-Half Surge: Adam Randall sparked Clemson’s comeback, rushing for 112 yards and scoring on a 1-yard touchdown to start the third quarter. Moments later, Ricardo Jones intercepted a pass and Cade Klubnik capitalized, connecting with Bryant Wesco Jr. for a 26-yard touchdown—giving Clemson its first lead at 17–16. A subsequent 30-yard field goal extended the advantage to 20–16. Wesco secured the win with a 34-yard touchdown catch from Klubnik in the fourth quarter.
Key Player Stats
Bryant Wesco Jr. caught two second-half touchdown passes, finishing with 7 receptions for 118 yards.
Cade Klubnik completed 18 of 24 passes for 196 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.
Adam Randall led the ground game with 112 yards on 21 carries and one rushing touchdown.
Clemson’s defense forced three second-half turnovers and delivered four sacks, turning defensive plays into momentum and scoring opportunities.
Analysis
Clemson’s win was a testament to resilience and mental toughness. Head Coach Dabo Swinney noted it was only the third time in program history that Clemson overcame a 16-point deficit at Death Valley, emphasizing that such comebacks are rare for a reason. Yet, the Tigers' offensive line and early game execution remain areas of concern.
Looking Ahead
Next week, Clemson will travel to Atlanta for its ACC opener against Georgia Tech. Clemson must improve first-half cohesion and minimize turnovers to avoid another scare. Should the Tigers maintain their second-half intensity and tighten protection up front, they have the potential to dominate early and control conference play from the start.
Sources
Clemson Tigers Official Athletics Site – Game Recap: clemsontigers.com
ESPN – Game Recap & Stats: espn.com
Troy University Athletics – Box Score/Recap: troytrojans.com
Shakin’ the Southland – Clemson 3 Stars, Week 2: shakinthesouthland.com
Wikipedia – 2025 Clemson Tigers Football Team (season stats): en.wikipedia.org
