Clemson Beats Furman 45-10 to Clinch Bowl Eligibility in Season Finale

It wasn't pretty, but it was enough. Clemson held off a gritty Furman team 45-10 on Saturday, November 22, 2025, at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina, to secure its sixth win of the season and punch its ticket to a bowl game. The Tigers, now 6-5 overall and 4-4 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, had waited until nearly Thanksgiving to get there — but they got there. And for a team that spent much of the season battling inconsistency, this wasn’t just a win. It was a lifeline.

A Dominant First Half, Then a Battle of Will

Clemson came out firing. On their first drive, kicker Nolan Hauser buried a 45-yard field goal to set the tone. By the time the second quarter clock hit 6:48, the Tigers led 31-0. Cade Klubnik, the junior quarterback from Southlake, Texas, was sharp — 9-of-15 for 159 yards, two touchdowns, no picks. His favorite target? Wide receiver Antonio Williams, who hauled in scoring passes of 22 and 35 yards. Meanwhile, redshirt freshman running back Tyler Brown powered in from 21 yards out, and linebacker Sammy Brown sealed the first-half onslaught with a pick-six setup that led to a 6-yard TD pass from backup QB Christopher Vizzina to tight end Christian Bentancur.

Furman, meanwhile, looked lost. The Paladins, who entered the game 6-6 and tied for fifth in the Southern Conference, hadn’t lost by more than 14 points all season. But Clemson’s defense — ranked 27th nationally in points allowed — turned the game into a clinic. They held Furman to 218 total yards and forced three turnovers. The only real spark for the visitors came from senior kicker Ian Williams, who nailed a 49-yard field goal just before halftime to make it 31-3. It was the first score the Paladins had managed in 24 minutes of game time.

Furman’s Fight Back — And the Missed Opportunity

The third quarter belonged to Trey Hedden, Furman’s junior quarterback from Flowery Branch, Georgia. He led a crisp 55-yard drive capped by a 19-yard TD pass to freshman receiver Evan James, also from Flowery Branch. For James, it was his fifth touchdown of the season — a quiet but steady rise for a player who’d only started three games before this season.

But then came the turning point. Early in the fourth quarter, Furman drove into Clemson’s red zone, looking to cut the lead to 31-13 and spark a real comeback. Instead, Ian Williams’s 42-yard field goal attempt sailed wide right. The crowd roared. The momentum shifted. Clemson’s offense, which had sputtered in the third quarter, woke up.

Enter Chris Denson, the redshirt senior quarterback from Tampa. He carried the ball seven times on the ensuing 75-yard drive — 69 of those yards on his own. Then, with 7:45 left, he found Logan Brooking, a sophomore from Suwanee, Georgia, on a 4-yard slant. Touchdown. 38-10. The game was over.

What This Means for Clemson

This win wasn’t just about bowl eligibility. It was about dignity. After losing to Georgia Tech and NC State in back-to-back weeks, and after a nail-biting 20-19 upset win over then-No. 20 Louisville the week before, the Tigers needed this. Coach Dabo Swinney — now in his 18th season at the helm — honored his senior class before kickoff at Memorial Stadium, where 81,500 fans packed the stands despite the drizzle. For many, it was their last chance to see this group in orange.

Now, Clemson waits. The selection committee will announce bowl pairings on Sunday, December 1. They’re likely headed to the Belk Bowl in Charlotte, North Carolina, or possibly the Pinstripe Bowl in New York — both teams that have invited Clemson in recent years. A win in any of those games would give the Tigers their first winning season since 2021.

Furman’s Season: A .500 Finale With Questions Ahead

Furman finished 6-6, their first winning season since 2018. But they didn’t get an FCS playoff bid — the Southern Conference only gets one automatic qualifier, and that went to Mercer (9-2). The Paladins’ season ended in frustration, not celebration. Running back Kerry King (71 yards) and Ben Croasdale (38 yards) showed flashes, but the offense never found rhythm. And with Hedden returning next year, the question isn’t whether they can improve — it’s whether they can take the next step.

For now, they’re left wondering: What if Williams had made that 42-yarder? What if the defense had held Clemson to one touchdown instead of three in the first half? Those are the questions that linger after a 45-10 loss.

What’s Next?

Clemson’s bowl game will be their 12th consecutive appearance — a streak that dates back to 2012. That’s the longest active streak in the ACC. They’ve won three of their last four bowl games, including the 2023 Cheez-It Bowl. This year’s opponent? Likely a mid-major from the American Athletic Conference or a Big Ten team looking for a warm-weather matchup.

Meanwhile, Furman will begin offseason workouts in January. New offensive coordinator Matt Powers — hired in December 2024 — has a tall task: turn a defense that allowed 30+ points in five games into a unit that can compete in the FCS playoffs.