Clemson Football 2026 Spring Game: By the Numbers

Clemson Football 2026 Spring Game: By the Numbers

Orange Squad Rolls 23-3 as Defensive Line Steals the Show in Death Valley

Clemson wrapped up its spring practices on Saturday, March 28, 2026, with the annual Orange & White Spring Game at Memorial Stadium. An estimated crowd of 25,000 fans packed the stands to watch the traditional split-squad scrimmage, which featured standard scoring, normal clock rules in the first quarter and final two minutes of each half, and a running clock otherwise.

The Orange team (featuring most of the projected defensive starters and a deeper roster overall) dominated from start to finish, posting a 23-3 victory over the White squad in a turnover-free exhibition. The game highlighted the Tigers’ defensive depth and emerging offensive talent heading into the 2026 season.

By the Numbers: Team Totals

• Final Score: Orange 23, White 3
• First Downs: Orange 15, White 6
• Net Rushing Yards: Orange 120 (27 carries, 4.4 avg.), White -4 (25 carries, -0.2 avg.)
• Net Passing Yards: Orange 166 (18-of-31, 0 INT), White 49 (7-of-14, 0 INT)
• Total Offense: Orange 286 (58 plays), White 45 (39 plays)
• Sacks: Orange 9 (for 54 yards lost), White 2 (for 10 yards lost)
• Time of Possession: Orange 30:45, White 29:15
• Third-Down Conversions: Orange 5-of-12, White 1-of-10
• Red-Zone Efficiency: Orange 3-of-3, White 1-of-1

Quarterbacks combined across both teams: 25-of-45 for 215 yards and 2 passing TDs, plus one rushing score. The game remained clean—no turnovers—and featured an exhibition kicking session at the end with long field goals from Nolan Hauser and Robert Gunn III.

Individual Stat Lines: Key Offensive ContributorsQuarterbacks

• Christopher Vizzina (Orange, projected starter): 10-of-18 for 95 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT; 2 carries for 14 yards. Cool and efficient in the pocket.
• Tait Reynolds (Freshman, rotated for both teams): 7-of-10 for 74 yards (combined across appearances); 1 rushing TD; also showed mobility despite some sacks.
• Trent Pearman (Orange): 4-of-7 for 34 yards, 1 TD.

Rushing Leaders

• Gideon Davidson (Orange RB): Game-high 80 yards on 9 carries (8.9 avg.), including a 35-yard burst. Sparked multiple drives and looked explosive.
• Other notables: David Eziomume (19 yards), Chris Johnson Jr. (16 yards). White’s top rusher: Jarvis Green (15 yards).

Receiving Leaders

• Tyler Brown (Orange): 5 receptions for 47 yards, 1 TD.
• Christian Bentancur (Orange): 4 receptions for 45 yards.
• Gordon Sellars III (Freshman WR, Orange): 3 receptions for 34 yards, 1 TD (including a highlight-reel one-handed grab).
• White’s top: Juju Preston (2 catches, 24 yards).

Defensive StandoutsThe Orange defense was the story of the day, racking up 9 sacks and holding White to negative rushing yards.

• London Merritt (DE): 2.5 sacks.
• Vic Burley (DT): 2.5 sacks.
• Kobe McCloud (LB): Recorded a safety (sack in the end zone).
• Fletcher Cothran (White LB): Game-high 10 tackles.
• Other mentions from reports: Darien Mayo (multiple tackles for loss) and Donovan Starr (strong coverage).

Key Plays of the Day

1. White takes early lead – Robert Gunn III’s 35-yard field goal (9-play, 59-yard drive) for a 3-0 advantage at 6:33 of the first quarter.
2. Vizzina’s TD strike – Christopher Vizzina went 4-for-4 on the drive, capping it with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Gordon Sellars III (one-handed spinning catch) to take a 7-3 lead.
3. Reynolds’ goal-line plunge – Freshman Tait Reynolds flipped to Orange and scored on a 1-yard rushing TD to push the lead to 14-3.
4. McCloud’s safety – Linebacker Kobe McCloud knifed through untouched for a sack in the end zone on Brock Bradley, making it 16-3 at halftime.
5. Pearman-to-Brown seal the deal – Trent Pearman hit Tyler Brown on a quick 4-yard TD pass in the third quarter for the final 23-3 margin.

What Clemson Fans Were Able to SeeDeath Valley got a glimpse of a defense that looks ready to dominate in 2026.

The Orange front seven was relentless—sacks on nearly a quarter of White’s passing plays—and showed the depth Dabo Swinney has built along the defensive line. Fans also saw Gideon Davidson emerge as a legitimate every-down back, ripping off chunk plays and energizing the crowd.

Offensively, Christopher Vizzina looked like the clear No. 1 quarterback—poised, accurate, and in command. Freshman Tait Reynolds flashed serious potential with his arm and legs, while young receivers like Gordon Sellars III made highlight plays that had the stands buzzing. The offensive line protected Vizzina well but will need to improve against elite fronts.

Overall, it was a low-risk, high-reward spring finale: no major injuries, plenty of vanilla schemes, but clear signals that Clemson’s “Best is the Standard” mentality remains intact after a challenging 2025. The Tigers now shift focus to fall camp and that Sept. 5 road opener at LSU. “Best is the Standard” — and after Saturday, Clemson fans left Memorial Stadium optimistic that the rebound is already underway.