Overview
- Late in the second quarter, Swinney confronted his defensive backs, including safety Khalil Barnes, after a coverage bust on Que'Sean Brown's touchdown just before halftime.
- Duke quarterback Darian Mensah went 15-of-24 for 241 yards and four touchdown passes by the break.
- Clemson allowed 28 first-half points, its highest total in an opening half this season.
- Duke converted all four of its fourth-down attempts in the first half to sustain scoring drives.
- Accounts differ on Brown's late first-half touchdown distance (41 or 43 yards), while Clemson's offense produced 142 rushing yards and three scores, led by Adam Randall's 90 yards and two touchdowns.