CLEMSON, S.C. (Interstat) — Clemson scored the final points of the game and defeated North Carolina 28-20 on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, S.C., in an NCAA Football Bowl Division game. The Tigers improved to 2-1. The Tar Heels dropped to 2-1. Clemson’s late surge capped a back-and-forth contest that featured two fourth-quarter touchdown runs and a defense that made enough stops after North Carolina had controlled much of the early action.

North Carolina opened the scoring when Demon June rushed middle for a 3-yard touchdown. Aeron Burrell added the extra point. Clemson answered with a 49-yard field goal by Nolan Hauser. The Tar Heels struck again later in the first quarter when Billy Edwards Jr. found Benjamin Hall on a short left pass that went 15 yards for a touchdown. Burrell’s kick made it a two-score game. North Carolina had a chance to extend the lead before the end of the quarter, but Burrell’s 47-yard field goal attempt was no good. In the second quarter, Burrell connected on a 33-yard field goal. Clemson’s Hauser made a 22-yard field goal in the third quarter, and Burrell answered with a 22-yard field goal in the fourth. Clemson then found its footing in the final minutes. Gideon Davidson rushed left for an 8-yard touchdown, though a two-point rush attempt failed. Tyler Brown later broke free for a 34-yard touchdown run, and Hauser’s extra point gave Clemson the lead for good. The Tigers added to their advantage before the final whistle.

Clemson’s offense was led by Tait Reynolds, who completed 20 of 29 passes for 215 yards and one touchdown while adding 11 carries for 26 yards and another score. Gideon Davidson paced the ground game with 16 carries for 105 yards and a touchdown, and he also caught one pass for 3 yards. Tyler Brown contributed a 34-yard touchdown run along with two receptions for 28 yards. Bryant Wesco Jr. caught five passes for 77 yards. T.J. Moore had seven receptions for 38 yards. Christian Bentancur caught two passes for 35 yards and a touchdown. Olsen Patt-Henry added two receptions for 28 yards. Jarvis Green carried five times for 22 yards. Chris Johnson Jr. returned four kickoffs for 87 yards. Nolan Hauser handled the field goals, and Jack Smith punted four times for 159 yards. Juju Preston caught one pass for 6 yards. Ronan Hanafin, listed as a wide receiver, also contributed five tackles on defense.

North Carolina’s offense was led by Edwards, who completed 13 of 30 passes for 135 yards and one touchdown. He also ran six times for 14 yards and scored on the ground. Benjamin Hall was productive with 18 carries for 130 yards, and he caught one pass for 15 yards and a touchdown. Demon June ran 12 times for 57 yards and scored a touchdown, and he returned one kickoff for 15 yards. Jordan Shipp caught six passes for 68 yards. Jelani Thurman had three receptions for 18 yards. Mason Humphrey caught one pass for 17 yards. Trech Kekahuna added two receptions for 17 yards and returned two punts for 18 yards. Jaylen McGill carried three times for 13 yards. Aeron Burrell kicked and punted, finishing with four punts for 189 yards and one tackle.

Clemson’s defense was led by Corey Myrick, who recorded 11 tackles. Jeremiah Alexander had 10 tackles. Sammy Brown finished with nine tackles, one sack and one quarterback hurry. Jerome Carter III added six tackles. Jahiem Lawson had four tackles and one quarterback hurry. Will Heldt applied pressure with three tackles and two sacks. Ronan Hanafin recorded five tackles. Fletcher Cothran had two tackles. Kylon Griffin, Devarrick Woods and Joe Wilkinson each had one tackle. North Carolina’s defensive effort included 10 tackles from Derek McDonald. Peyton Seelmann had eight tackles. Kaleb Cost, Coleman Bryson and Greg Smith each finished with seven tackles, and Smith added an interception. Jaiden Patterson made six tackles. Xavier Lewis had five tackles and two sacks. Peyton Waters added four tackles. Leroy Jackson contributed two tackles and one sack. Donovan Hoilette Jr. had two tackles, while Jaylen Harvey also had two. Isaiah Johnson, Jonathan Agumadu, Calvin Thomas, Kenton Dopson III, Javion Butts and Jaziel Hart each recorded one tackle.

The loss ended a promising start for North Carolina, which had opened the season with a 15-10 win at Texas Christian on Aug. 29 and a 35-3 home victory over East Tennessee State on Sept. 12. Clemson entered the game after a 22-7 home win over Georgia Southern on Sept. 12 and a 51-10 loss at LSU on Sept. 5. The Tigers will travel to California on Friday, Sept. 25. North Carolina will next host Notre Dame on Saturday, Oct. 3. Clemson also has upcoming games against Miami on Oct. 3 and at Florida State on Oct. 31. North Carolina is scheduled to visit Pittsburgh on Oct. 10, visit Duke on Oct. 17 and host Syracuse on Oct. 24. Clemson is set to host Charleston Southern on Oct. 17, Virginia Tech on Oct. 24 and Georgia Tech on Nov. 14. North Carolina will host Miami on Oct. 31, visit Connecticut on Nov. 7 and host Louisville on Nov. 14. Clemson will visit Syracuse on Nov. 7, visit Duke on Friday, Nov. 20 and host South Carolina on Nov. 28. North Carolina will visit Virginia on Nov. 21 and host North Carolina State on Nov. 28.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Clemson 31, North Carolina 20. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Clemson with a 90.4 percent probability to win. North Carolina had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of plus 3. The over/under line was 44.5, and the total score was 48. The projected margin and the pregame numbers framed a game that Clemson ultimately won by eight points.