Tennessee football defense leads the way for a victory against Clemson

Tennessee football beat the Clemson Tigers, 31-14, in the 2022 version of the Orange Bowl. The Volunteers were able to stop Clemson’s offense, only allowing 14 points for the entire game. Joe Milton had an amazing game, throwing for 251 yards and 3 touchdowns.

The game started off with a Tennessee offense that struggled to get anything going on their opening drive, and a Clemson offense that got going, but went for it on fourth in the red zone and turned the ball over.

Tennessee finally broke the scoring drought on their second possession behind the passing game and Jabari Small’s runs. Clemson’s offense would respond with a drive of their own, but would have to settle for a three-point attempt as the pressure got to Cade Klubnik on third down. B.T. Potter missed the 55-yard field goal. This would be the first of three field goals the kicker would miss in this game.

What followed on the next couple of drives was Tennessee’s offense struggling mightily, as well as Clemson continuing to miss field goals. Finally, with 10 minutes left in the second, Tennessee started a drive that ended up with a TD. Clemson would respond, but couldn’t finish in the red zone and had to settle for three. B.T. Potter made his first field goal of the night, making it a 14-3 game with 5 minutes left in the second.

For the rest of the half, both teams would trade punts, as the score was 14-3 going into the second half. Clemson would finally break out and get a drive going, but couldn’t finish and had to settle for three, making it a one-possession game after a 40-yard field goal from Potter.

After three consecutive punts with minimal yardage gain on each drive, Clemson finally broke the streak by getting things going with their run game. They were unable to score though, as they rightfully went for it on fourth and 2 at the opposing 31 and couldn’t get it. Will Shipley would be stopped one yard on that fourth down play.

Tennessee would quickly go to work, scoring a touchdown in four plays. It was a two-possession game and I honestly thought that was the game even though there was still a full quarter to be played. Clemson’s offense hadn’t really shown up at all, especially in the passing game.

In all fairness to Cade Klubnik, he is a true freshman, and (as mentioned on the broadcast) this is really a hard spot to play your second game in. He shouldn’t be defined at all by this game; he was just put in a tough spot.

Clemson’s offense did show some fight at the beginning of the fourth by getting a score behind a solid air attack from Klubnik. Tennessee quickly erased any doubt that they weren’t gonna win this game by scoring a TD on the other end with 8 minutes left to go in the game. A Cade Klubnik interception on the next drive by Tamarion McDonald in Clemson territory, and this game was pretty over.

Clemson would get the ball back after Tennessee went three and out, but just honestly the way the game was going, it seemed over. A three and out by Clemson and a field goal for Tennessee and it basically was. The Tennessee Volunteers would beat the Clemson Tigers, 31-14, to win the Orange Bowl.

Tennessee football defeats Clemson in 2022 Orange Bowl

Very quickly on Clemson, in my opinion, the QB position was a huge glaring hole this season. It cost them a chance at the college football playoff. D.J. Uiagalelei was a mixed bag this season at QB.

Overall Tennessee had an amazing season. They ended up with 11 wins and one of their two losses came up against the best team in college football (or at least at the moment). The other loss, well, the secondary got destroyed by South Carolina. That loss cost them a chance at the playoff. Still, they had an amazing season to be proud of.

In the beginning, they were not even ranked, and they ended up winning a New Years Six bowl. Last season, Tennessee football wasn’t bowl-eligible till the 20th of November. This season, they won 11 games…This year was a serious win for Josh Heupel.

The offense for Tennessee football this season was electric. The Volunteers averaged 45 points per game this season. In my opinion, Tennessee had the best offense in the country this season. With a backup QB, Josh Heupel was able to lead the Tennessee Volunteers to an Orange Bowl win to cap off an amazing season.