While The Citadel held the ball seven more minutes than the Tigers, Harper's efficiency allowed Clemson to easily put away the Bulldogs.

On the first play of the game, Nate Irving intercepted a Cullen Harper pass and returned it 33 yards for a touchdown, putting the Wolfpack up 6–0.

The next offensive series, the Tigers started on their own 24 and drove the length of the field, capping the drive with a 16-yard touchdown pass from Harper to Jacoby Ford.

S.C. State received the ball to start the third quarter, but it was the Tigers who opened up scoring as Chris Clemons picked off a Bulldog pass and returned it for a touchdown.

Early in the fourth quarter, the Tigers scored their fifth rushing touchdown of the day on a one-yard run by backup quarterback Willy Korn.

Clemson firmly held the momentum of the game for the first half, with their running backs able to exploit holes in the Terps' defensive line.

In the second half, the Terrapins began with a series that fizzled out after a run attempt for a loss, an additional false start, and two incomplete passes.

On the first play of their second series, wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey executed a reverse, gaining 76 yards before being run down at the Clemson 4-yard line.

This set up a short Chris Turner touchdown pass to receiver Torrey Smith, and irreversibly shifted the game's momentum in favor of the Terps.

In the fourth quarter, three completions to Danny Oquendo set the stage for a one-yard rush into the end zone by Da'rel Scott.

The upset marked the fourth consecutive Maryland win against a ranked opponent (the others: #23 Cal, and, in the 2007 season, #8 Boston College and #10 Rutgers).

The trophy is named after Charlie O'Rourke and Banks McFadden, who were the respective quarterbacks for Boston College and Clemson during the 1940 Cotton Bowl (the 1st meeting between the Eagles and Tigers).

Driving from their own 20, the Tigers made their way to the Eagles 10-yard line before having to settle for a Mark Buchholz field goal to increase the lead to 17–0.

Boston College mounted a comeback in the second half, sparked by a McLaughlin interception of Harper to set up the Eagles at the Tigers 7-yard line.

Early in the 4th quarter, the Eagles would block a Jimmy Maners punt, which was returned by Roderick Rollins 20 yards for a touchdown to close the margin to 17–14.

A fumbled punt by Florida State's Tony Carter at the Seminole 9 yard line put Clemson in scoring position, and they regained the lead at 17 - 13 with an 8-yard touchdown pass from Harper to Michael Palmer.

On the opening drive of the second half Ponder hit wide receiver Corey Surrency on a 14-yard scoring pass, stretching their lead to 27 - 17.

Florida State extended their lead on a 1-yard dive by running back Antone Smith in the fourth quarter to put the Seminoles up 34 – 20.

After trading possession, which saw Duke having to punt twice and a Clemson drive stall on a missed 53-yard field goal, the Tigers took over again with 9:23 left in the second quarter.

Clemson's next drive proved to be very short, as Harper connected on a screen pass to Spiller, who raced 83 yards for his second touchdown of the day.

Defensively, the Tigers held the Blue Devils to 168 total yards (85 passing and 83 rushing), 2 of 14 on third down conversions, and forced two turnovers.

Crezdon Butler and DeAndre McDaniel also recorded interceptions, while Byron Maxwell forced a fumble that was recovered by Jock McKissic late in the first quarter.

[5] The Tigers opened the game with a drive that reached the South Carolina 30 yard line before a shoulder pad on the ball forced a fumble from C.J.

On the Gamecock's next series a third first-half interception of Smelley, this time by safety Michael Hamlin, gave the Tigers the ball at the South Carolina 41-yard line.

South Carolina recovered a fumble by Harper late in the second quarter to give the Gamecocks the ball at the Clemson 33-yard line.

Their short drive was capped with a 16-yard touchdown pass from Smelley to running back Patrick DiMarco to cut the Tigers' lead to 24–7 at the half.

The Gamecocks opened the second half with a 69-yard scoring drive, capped by a 23-yard touchdown pass from Smelley to tight end Weslye Saunders to close to within 24–14.

With the victory, the Tigers secured bowl eligibility and gave interim head coach Dabo Swinney his fourth win since taking over at mid-season following Tommy Bowden's resignation.

Two days after the victory Clemson athletic director Terry Don Phillips removed Swinney's interim tag and made him the program's new head coach.

With 1st and goal to go and about two minutes remaining on the clock, Cullen Harper came up short, resulting in a 16-yard sack and three Clemson incompletions to seal the outcome of the game.