NEWNow you can listen to Fox News articles!
Saturday's game at Memorial Stadium at Clemson turned out to be a dramatic event, full of sharp fluctuations.
Duke looked unstoppable, gaining 199 yards in the first quarter to take a 21-7 lead. But Clemson came back with three straight touchdowns to take a 28-21 lead. The Tigers were back in control six minutes before Duke's final drive.
The 46-45 loss to the Blue Devils was another low point in what remains disappointing season for Clemson. The Tigers lost four home games for the first time since 1998.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS RESOURCES ON FOXNEWS.COM
Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney speaks with an official on November 1, 2025 during an NCAA football game against the Duke Blue Devils at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina. (Alex Martin/Greenville News/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Just seconds before halftime, cameras caught Swinney yelling furiously at players standing on the Clemson sideline.
After the game, Swinney reflected on some of the crushing losses he's been involved in during his long coaching tenure at Clemson. He then joked about the possibility of being fired after the heartbreaking loss. to Duke.
“No,” Swinney said when asked if this was his most frustrating season since being Clemson's head coach. “2010, I would put this one and 10, probably here… these two. I mean 10, brutal. We lost five games by six points or less, two in overtime.”
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney speaks with an official during a game against Louisiana State University at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina on August 30, 2025. (Ken Ruinard/USA Today Network South Carolina)
“[I] could be fired today,” Swinney said, recalling feeling insecure about his job status after a disappointing loss to South Carolina more than a decade ago. “Graham (Neff, Clemson athletic director) is sitting in the back today, so I don’t know. I can't say I would blame him.”
CLEMSON FOOTBALL STAR BRYANT WESCO JR. OUT FOR REST OF SEASON DUE TO BACK INJURY
Swinney later played down concerns about his job, telling FOX Carolina he remains focused on winning.
“We need to win some games. I'm just worried about trying to beat Florida State,” Swinney said.
Duke running back Nate Sheppard scored a 3-yard touchdown with 40 seconds left, and the Blue Devils followed with a two-point pass from Darian Mensah to wide receiver Shamir Hagans to secure the win over Clemson for the first time since 1980.
“Having extra innings in Death Valley is not a good plan,” Duke coach Manny Diaz said. “Winning in regulation where you haven’t won in 45 years? This is an important step for our program.”
Duke Blue Devils head coach Manny Diaz high-fives players on Saturday, November 1, 2025, during an NCAA football game against the Clemson Tigers at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina. (Alex Martin/Greenville News/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Duke trailed 45-38 and started the winning drive at its own 6-yard line. Mensah led an 11-game run in which he converted two fourth downs to cap Sheppard's scoring streak.
Duca's Diaz kept the offense on the field without hesitation, and Mensah quickly found Hagans for the decisive points.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Clemson home team Florida next week.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Follow Fox News Digital sports reporting on Xand subscribe to Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
