CLEMSON – There are losses and then there are games where you get beat in all three phases. Clemson was outscored by Louisville in all three phases of the game in a 33-21 loss.

The Tigers had 450 total yards but scored just seven points in the first three quarters of the game, while the Cardinals scored in every quarter, had a 150-yard rusher and blocked two field goal attempts.

“We just didn’t show up ready to play,” Clemson said of the graduate safety RJ Mickens said. “I feel like we just didn’t use the momentum we had and didn’t play complementary football. Defense, we get a stop. The offense would get stopped, and then the offense would score, and then we would give up a touchdown. We just didn’t capitalize on it, especially after halftime.”

Prior to this game, Clemson had never lost to Louisville. However, this was a completely different game. Clemson outpaced Louisville in rushing and receiving yards and dominated time of possession, owning the ball for nearly 38 minutes. The Tigers also had more first downs. Neither team lost the ball. Clemson's flaws aren't easy to see in the numbers.

The Tigers had a 7-3 lead at the end of the first quarter, followed by 23 unanswered points from the Cardinals. Their running game crushed Clemson the entire game. True freshman running back Isaac Brown had 20 carries for 151 yards and a touchdown against the Tigers; He averaged 7.6 yards per carry. Prior to this game, Clemson held opposing running backs to an average of 4.2 yards per carry.

Trying to come back in the fourth quarter, they decided to kick the extra point when they were down 19 points before the touchdown – accounting for two touchdowns with two two-point conversions and a field goal. Hitting the extra point made it a 12-point game, meaning they needed two touchdowns, whereas if they had converted a two-point attempt they would have scored a touchdown with another two-point conversion and a field Goal would need.

Ultimately, it didn't matter, as Brown scored a 45-yard touchdown on the first play of the ensuing drive after officials ruled the Cardinals recovered Clemson's onside kick attempt. Even if it had been determined that the Tigers recovered the onside kick attempt, it may not have mattered. As ESPN's rules analyst explained during the broadcast, Clemson began blocking the onside kick too early, and therefore, even if the original decision was overturned during review, this particular penalty is reviewable, and the rules analyst stated that this is a Had Clemson counterclaimed, the onside kick would have been nullified and they would have had to try again. This was another mistake by the Tigers.

What hurts players like Mickens the most is that the loss to Louisville means Clemson needs some help getting into the ACC Championship, which after two losses appears to be their only path to the playoffs.

Both Miami and SMU are undefeated in conference play. To have a chance at the ACC Championship, the Tigers must suffer a conference loss to one of these teams. Each team has three conference games to conclude the regular season. In his final season of college football, Mickens didn't want to be in that position.

“We are no longer in control of our destiny, which is really sad knowing that this is my last chance at this,” Mickens said. “But we are craftsmen. That is our task. That's what we do. That's what we like to do. So I feel like the guys are going to show up and do their best no matter what our record is or what's on the scoreboard. Boys will come out and play football because they like playing football. So that's really what we do. It's disappointing to lose control of our season, my last season, like that. But anything can happen and we are just blessed to be alive and in this position. So in difficult times like these, it’s always good to keep an overview.”