ATLANTA, GA — Clemson needed a miracle to survive Arkansas’s furious late rally, and somehow found one, defeating the Razorbacks 37-34 as time expired at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
For a moment, it looked like Arkansas had pulled off the upset.
With just six seconds remaining, quarterback KJ Jackson found Courtney Crutchfield streaking down the right sideline behind a blown coverage for a 75-yard touchdown. The score gave the Razorbacks a 34-30 lead and ignited celebrations on the Arkansas sideline.
All the Razorbacks had to do was defend one final play.
They couldn’t.
Starting from their own 25-yard line, Clemson quarterback Christopher Vizzina took the snap, drifted back in the pocket, and launched a desperation pass down the left sideline. Receiver Taylor Cherry outran his defender, hauled in the pass near the Arkansas 20-yard line, and raced untouched into the end zone as time expired, completing one of the most improbable finishes in CFP history.
“I’ve been around football a long time, and I’ve never seen an ending quite like that,” said Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney. “We kept fighting, kept believing, and somehow found a way. I’m relieved it ended in our favor because that was an emotional roller coaster.”
Arkansas had plenty of heroes of its own.
Sophomore running back Emmett Lemons rushed for two touchdowns, while linebacker Tavion Wallace blocked a Clemson field-goal attempt that Bryan Banfield returned 82 yards for a touchdown, helping the Razorbacks build a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter.
The fourth quarter turned into a shootout as the teams combined for 31 points.
With 2:42 remaining, Crutchfield hauled in a 28-yard touchdown pass from Jackson to give Arkansas a 27-24 lead. Clemson answered quickly when Vizzina found Christian Bentancur on a short touchdown pass to move the Tigers back in front, 31-27.
Then came Arkansas’s apparent game-winner with six seconds left.
Instead, Vizzina and Cherry authored a finish that will be remembered for years, sending Clemson into the CFP semifinals and ending Arkansas’s remarkable season in heartbreaking fashion.
