How One Play in 2017 Elevated Clemson to College Football Royalty

wcc

Jun 10, 2025 - 18:48

0 0

How One Play in 2017 Elevated Clemson to College Football Royalty originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

College football is full of unforgettable moments — plays so electric and improbable they live forever in fan memory. For Clemson Tigers fans, few moments shine brighter than the “Orange Crush” play from the 2017 national championship game.

Ranked No. 13 on ESPN’s list of the top 25 college football plays since 2000, “Orange Crush” was the defining moment that gave Clemson its second-ever national title and the first under head coach Dabo Swinney. Facing a fierce Alabama team in a back-and-forth classic, Clemson found themselves trailing 31-28 with just over two minutes left.

What followed was a masterclass in clutch football. Quarterback Deshaun Watson led the Tigers on a decisive, pressure-packed drive, ultimately reaching the Crimson Tide’s 2-yard line with six seconds remaining.

Then, on a brilliant final play, Watson found wide receiver Hunter Renfrow in the end zone — a touchdown sealed by a perfectly executed rub route from Artavis Scott that created just enough separation.

Clemson Tigers wide receiver Hunter Renfrow (13) scores the winning touchdown as Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Tony Brown (2) defends during the fourth quarter in the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Raymond James Stadium. Clemson defeated Alabama 35-31.© John David Mercer-Imagn Images

That one-second victory, a 35-31 triumph, not only shocked the college football world but also launched Clemson into the upper echelon of college football royalty.

More than just a championship-winning play, “Orange Crush” symbolized Clemson’s arrival as a true national powerhouse. It validated Dabo Swinney’s leadership and vision, forever changed the trajectory of the program, and sparked a new era where Clemson consistently contended for titles.

On This Date: Deshaun Watson found Hunter Renfrow to give @ClemsonFB the title 🏆 pic.twitter.com/G62Vmh0Lqp— ESPN (@espn) January 9, 2019

Nearly a decade later, the memory of that play still reverberates through Death Valley. It’s a reminder to Tigers fans — and college football fans everywhere — of the beauty and drama the sport delivers, and why some moments truly never fade.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.