A week after scoring 36 points at Florida State, Clemson needed its defense to supply the difference at Syracuse. The Tigers never reached the end zone on offense Saturday, but Jahiem Lawson’s touchdown return helped secure an 18-13 victory at the JMA Wireless Dome.
The win moved Clemson to 6-3 overall and 4-2 in conference play. It also gave Dabo Swinney his 118th ACC regular-season victory, establishing a conference record.
Syracuse had an opportunity to spoil that milestone late, cutting the deficit to five with 3:12 remaining. Tait Reynolds helped prevent another possession, converting third-and-eight with a 10-yard run before picking up another first down on a 13-yard carry after the two-minute timeout.
Those closing runs finished a game in which
Clemson repeatedly needed someone outside its offense to deliver.
Nolan Hauser accounted for the Tigers’ first 12 points, connecting from 32, 36, 37 and 54 yards. His longest kick tied Clemson’s single-season record with his 27th field goal and set the program’s career mark for makes from at least 50 yards.
Lawson then provided the touchdown Clemson had been missing.
With 6:39 left in the third quarter, the senior defensive end recovered a backward pass from Steve Angeli and returned it 22 yards. Kourtney Kelly’s pressure helped force the loose ball, and Lawson’s recovery extended a 12-6 advantage to 18-6.
Ashton Hampton protected that cushion in the fourth quarter, intercepting Angeli in the end zone on third-and-goal from the Clemson 3 with 6:03 remaining.
The Orange eventually broke through for a 33-yard touchdown pass, but Clemson’s earlier defensive stops left Syracuse needing more than one score.
Clemson cruises past American behind star guard Ace Buckner’s career night
— Clemson Wire (@Clemson_Wire) November 7, 2026
📸 Ken Ruinard / USA Today Network , USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co https://t.co/Vtfrtk8uzx pic.twitter.com/Gk68wj7ghI
Offensively, the Tigers struggled to capitalize on a promising start. A 53-yard Jarvis Green run and a 53-yard completion to Wesco on separate possessions produced field goals instead of touchdowns. Clemson led just 9-6 at halftime.
It was the Tigers’ first win without an offensive touchdown since the 2023 South Carolina game.
Clemson returns home next Saturday to face Georgia Tech at 12:30 p.m.
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This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Clemson hits the road to dominate Syracuse for a crucial ACC win
