Nov 12, 2016; Clemson, SC, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers running back James Conner (24) carries the ball during the second half against the Clemson Tigers at Clemson Memorial Stadium. Photo Credit: Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports
CLEMSON, S.C. — Chris Blewitt of Pittsburgh kicked a 48-yard field goal with six seconds remaining and the Panthers stunned No. 2 Clemson 43-42 on Saturday at Memorial Stadium, all but ending Clemson’s hopes for a return trip to the College Football Playoff.
Pittsburgh stuffed Clemson running back Wayne Gallman for a one-yard loss on a fourth-and-one play at the Pittsburgh 35 yard line with less than a minute to play and quickly drove 34 yards in six plays to set up Blewitt for the winning score.
Pittsburgh improved to 6-4 overall and 3-3 in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Clemson, which was hoping to secure its fifth division title since 2009 under coach Dabo Swinney, will have to wait at least another week when it plays at Wake Forest.
The Tigers (9-1, 6-1) can still advance to the ACC Championship Game, but the loss likely thwarted a return trip to the College Football Playoff, where they finished runner-up to Alabama last season.
The Panthers won despite even though junior quarterback Deshaun Watson passed for an ACC record 580 yards.
Watson completed a 52 of 70 passes -– both school records -– for three touchdowns, but had three passes intercepted.
It was the first meeting between the teams since a 34-3 Pittsburgh victory in the 1977 Gator Bowl.
When the Panthers drove 75 yards in five plays for a touchdown on their first possession — the first touchdown Clemson had allowed in the first quarter this season — it was an indicator of what was to come.
Clemson held a 28-27 lead after a wild first half that saw Watson pass for 321 yards and two touchdowns and Pittsburgh quarterback Nathan Peterman match his career high with four touchdown passes.
Although Clemson entered the game with the nation’s No. 12 defense, including the 11th-ranked pass defense, the game quickly turned into a shootout.
But Pittsburgh got the last laugh.
Peterman completed 22 of 37 passes for 308 yards and a career-best five touchdowns. Running back James Conner added 132 yards and a score on 20 carries, and tight end Scott Orndoff had nine receptions for 128 yards and two touchdowns.
NOTES: Clemson RB Wayne Gallman entered the game needing 70 yards rushing to become the sixth player in program history to reach 3,000 yards in a career, but was limited to 36 yards on 18 carries. … Clemson freshman DL Dexter Lawrence led Tiger defensive linemen with 54 tackles and 17 quarterback pressures. … Pittsburgh WR Quadree Henderson leads the nation with three kickoff returns for touchdowns and had a kickoff return average (33.8). … DE Ejuan Price ranked third nationally in sacks (1.0) per game and tackles for loss (1.78) per game.
