LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Interstat) — In a defensive struggle defined by missed opportunities and a final, frantic drive that fell short, the Clemson Tigers edged the Louisville Cardinals 20-19 on Friday night at a rain-slicked L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium.

A crowd of 51,234 watched as Clemson evened its record at 5-5 while Louisville dropped to 7-3, its hopes extinguished on an incomplete pass from Miller Moss on the game’s final play.

The contest was a tale of two offenses searching for consistency. Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik of Austin, Texas, managed the game effectively, completing 22 of 34 passes for 187 yards, but it was the multifaceted performance of wide receiver Adam Randall that proved decisive. The Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, native was a workhorse, carrying the ball 15 times for 105 yards and two touchdowns while adding three receptions for 27 yards. His 1-yard touchdown plunge with 7:16 remaining in the fourth quarter, confirmed after an automatic review, provided the winning margin.

Louisville’s offense, meanwhile, was carried by the explosive running of Keyjuan Brown. The Atlanta native gashed the Clemson defense for 135 yards on 15 carries, repeatedly breaking off long runs to set up scoring chances. Quarterback Miller Moss of Los Angeles was efficient, completing 19 of 27 passes for 212 yards and a touchdown, but the Cardinals repeatedly stalled in the red zone and were forced to settle for field goal attempts.

The game began as a punting duel before Clemson pieced together a 13-play, 65-yard opening drive that culminated in a 27-yard field goal from Nolan Hauser. Louisville responded with a drive of its own, ending with a 51-yard Cooper Ranvier field goal to tie the game late in the first quarter.

Clemson seized momentum just before halftime. With 3:13 left in the second quarter, Louisville running back Duke Watson fumbled at his own 25-yard line, with Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell forcing and recovering the loose ball. On the very next play, Randall took a handoff and burst through the middle for a 25-yard touchdown, giving the Tigers a 10-3 lead.

Louisville answered just before the break, with Moss capping a drive with a 1-yard touchdown run. However, Ranvier’s point-after attempt sailed wide, leaving the Tigers with a 10-9 advantage at the intermission.

The Cardinals emerged from halftime with purpose, marching 75 yards on eight plays. The drive featured a clever trick play, with receiver Chris Lacy throwing a 2-yard touchdown pass to tight end Nate Kurisky of Washington, D.C. Ranvier’s extra point gave Louisville its first lead at 16-10.

Clemson responded with a Hauser 48-yard field goal to pull within three, and Ranvier countered with a 39-yarder of his own to restore the six-point lead at 19-13 heading into the fourth quarter.

The final period belonged to Clemson’s ground game. After a Louisville punt, the Tigers embarked on a critical 10-play, 56-yard drive that consumed over four minutes of clock. It was powered almost exclusively by Randall, who accounted for 50 of those yards, including a 46-yard scamper and the final, decisive 1-yard dive into the end zone. Hauser’s extra point put Clemson back on top 20-19.

Louisville had two late chances to reclaim the lead. Their first drive after the Clemson touchdown reached the Tigers’ 32-yard line, but Moss was sacked for a 6-yard loss by Clemson linebacker Sammy Brown, pushing the Cardinals out of comfortable field goal range. Ranvier’s 50-yard attempt then hooked wide left with 4:06 remaining.

After a Clemson three-and-out, Louisville got the ball back at its own 17 with just 25 seconds left and no timeouts. Moss quickly moved the Cardinals to their 29, but his final three passes fell incomplete, the last one batted away by Clemson safety Ricardo Jones on fourth down to seal the victory.

Defensively, the game was a showcase for linebackers. Clemson’s Sammy Brown of Commerce, Georgia, was a force with a game-high 11 tackles and a sack. For Louisville, Antonio Watts of Columbus, Georgia, and Stanquan Clark of Miami, Florida, each tallied seven tackles.

The Tigers will host Furman on Nov. 22, while Louisville travels to face SMU on the same date.