Gideon Davidson's Touchdown Run Clinches Clemson's Win Over California

It wasn't the best showing for Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers, but they were able to come away with a 24-10 win over the California Golden Bears on Friday night.

They were led by star running back Gideon Davidson, who had 22 carries for 159 yards and two touchdowns, including a game-clinching 75-yard touchdown run with 2:58 left in the fourth quarter.

The run game was the story for Clemson on offense, as they rushed for 253 yards and two touchdowns on 46 carries. Without Davidson on the field, it would've been difficult for the Tigers to get anything going on offense.

Quarterback Tait Reynolds had a rough game, completing 13 of 21 passes for 108 yards, zero touchdowns, and an interception. Clemson has some talented pass catchers, like wide receiver T.J. Moore, but he managed just three catches for 24 yards, with the passing game all out of sync.

Despite the struggles in the passing game, the Tigers came away with the win behind their rushing attack and defense.

Elliot Washington II picked off Cal quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele twice, setting the tone defensively for Clemson. The defense also generated some pressure, with London Merritt posting a sack, while Jeremiah Alexander and Champ Thompson split a sack.

The Tigers held the Golden Bears to 145 passing yards and 86 yards on the ground on 27 carries. This level of defense is what Clemson needs to be a competitive team and contend for an ACC Title.

Special teams also had an impact in the game as Bryant Wesco Jr. returned a punt for a 65-yard score. 

With the win, the Tigers now improve to 3-1 and will take on the Miami Hurricanes next week. This will be a major challenge for Dabo Swinney's team, as Miami is the sixth-ranked team in the country and were in the National Championship in the 2025 season.

Clemson's defense has looked strong of late, but they struggled mightily in their Week 1 opener against the LSU Tigers. If that's a sign of how the Tigers' defense matches up against top teams in the country, then next week could be a long game.

However, Clemson's main concern should be getting Reynolds and the passing game in rhythm. They've been able to establish the run game against Davidson, but if they find themselves trailing the Hurricanes, they will need to pass to catch up.

Swinney and the Tigers can relish the win on Friday night over Cal, but a matchup against Miami next week serves as a true test.