Clemson Rallies To Top Football, 28-20

Saturday, September 19

Clemson, S.C. (Memorial Stadium)

Noon

North Carolina

2-1 , 0-1

Clemson

2-1 , 1-0

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
North Carolina	14	3	0	3	20
Clemson	3	3	9	13	28

Final Stats (,pdf)

Photo by: UNC Athletic Communications

September 19, 2026 | Football

Box Score Final Stats (.pdf)Media Central Photo Gallery

By: Matt Bowers

CLEMSON, S.C.—Clemson came from behind and beat North Carolina, 28-20, in ACC football action on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. The Tigers outscored Carolina, 22-3, in the second half and went on a 25-3 run in the final 38:36 after UNC started strong and led, 17-3, in the early going.

Clemson improved to 2-1 this season with the win, while the Tar Heels fell to 2-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both teams.

Carolina controlled both lines of scrimmage and dominated the first quarter, then held serve in the second period and led, 17-6 at halftime to draw early boos from the partisan Clemson crowd. The Tar Heels posted impressive, touchdown drives on their first two possessions and out-gained the Tigers, 195-117, in the first half, including 112-41 on the ground.

The final two-thirds of the game were much more back-and-forth, as Clemson made things interesting and clawed back to take control down the stretch.

Benjamin Hall rushed 18 times for a career-high 130 yards, while Demon June added 57 yards on the ground for Carolina. Overall, four Tar Heels combined to run for a season-high 214 yards

Tar Heel quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. completed 13 of 30 passing attempts for 135 yards with a touchdown and an interception for a passer rating of 85.5.

True freshman Clemson QB Tait Reynolds made his first career start and opened the game just 5 for 9 passing for 17 yards but finished 20-for-29 with 215 yards and a touchdown. Gideon Davidson ran the ball 16 times for 105 yards and a score for the Tigers.

Tar Heel sophomore Xavier Lewis, who entered the game leading the ACC in sacks and tied for the national lead in tackles for loss, had five tackles and two sacks. He posted his fifth sack of the year in the first half. He then had another crucial sack early in the fourth quarter to force a Tiger punt when Clemson had the momentum and trailed by just two points.

Derek McDonald led UNC with 10 tackles, including five solo stops and a pass break-up.

Up Next
The Tar Heels have a bye next weekend before hosting Notre Dame on Saturday October 3 in Kenan Stadium.

How It Happened
First Quarter
• After its defense stymied Clemson for a three-and-out opening possession, Carolina took the resulting punt with good field position in Tiger territory. Six plays later, June ran it in for a three-yard score and a 7-0 lead. It was June's fourth touchdown in two games.
• The Tigers responded with a field goal on their ensuing effort, taking the ball 44 yards in nine plays to make it 7-3.
• Carolina replied with an efficient, methodical drive to take a 14-3 lead. Edwards connected on a 15-yard TD toss to Hall with 4:50 left in the quarter to cap a 10-play, 75-yard march and make the score 14-3 Tar Heels.
• Two plays into Clemson's subsequent drive, Greg Smith forced a fumble by Tiger Jarvis Green. Jaylen Harvey's recovery gave Carolina another short field at the 25-yard line. Aeron Burrell missed a 47-yard field goal attempt, however, leaving the score 14-3 at the end of the opening 15 minutes.

Second Quarter
• Midway through the second quarter at the 8:36 mark, Burrell's 33-yard field goal capped another long Tar Heel drive and made it 17-3. Carolina moved 61 yards in 13 plays and 5:22 as it continued to control the game action with solid ball control.
• Clemson's defense eventually stiffened later in the second period to limit the damage and stay within striking range, leading to a 21-yard Nolan Hauser field goal in the closing seconds to make the score 17-6 Carolina at the half. The kick capped a marathon, 18-play, 88-yard Tiger drive in 5:02.

Third Quarter
• After a promising start to the Tiger second half, Smith made another big play and picked off Reynolds at the UNC two-yard line to finish Clemson's opening drive coming out of the locker room.
• On the very next play, June burst through the line but fumbled and Vic Burley recovered to give the Tigers the ball at the Carolina 12. The Tar Heel defense responded and forced a field goal to preserve a 17-9 advantage. Coleman Bryson blitzed on the key third down and deflected Reynolds' pass to prevent a potential touchdown.
• On its next drive, Clemson used a 41-yard pass from Reynolds to Bryant Wesco Jr. to the Tar Heel 38 and a 27-yard scoring catch by Christian Bentacur to score a touchdown. After an unsuccessful Tiger two-point try, the score was 17-15 Tar Heels with 4:21 left in the third.

Fourth Quarter
• Midway through the fourth period, Carolina had the ball and was driving before a lengthy lightning delay began with 8:11 remaining in the fourth quarter. Play resumed after the weather interruption of 2:27.
• At that point, UNC had a second-and-goal play at the Clemson seven-yard line. After two runs by June, Burrell's field goal gave Carolina a 20-15 lead at the 6:34 mark.
• Clemson then took the ball. Gideon Davidson's 45-yard burst up the middle brought the Tigers within the Tar Heel 10, and two plays later he ran it in from the eight to give the Tigers their first lead at 21-20 after an unsuccessful two-point attempt.
• The Tigers stopped Carolina on a fourth-down play on the ensuing drive and took possession. Five plays later, they scored on a 34-yard run by Tyler Brown to go ahead, 28-20.

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