Notre Dame vs. Clemson score, updates: Irish comeback attempt falls short in 31-23 loss

With top running back Will Shipley out, Phil Mafah had the best game of his career in leading Clemson to a 31-23 upset win over Notre Dame.

Sam Hartman and the Fighting Irish offense struggled in the first half, failing to score a passing touchdown in the game. Xavier Watts returned an interception to the 2-yard line in the third quarter that Audric Estime punched in for the first Fighting Irish touchdown of the game. Hartman also showed his running ability, ripping off three runs of 15 yards or more, including a 26-yard touchdown.

More: This could be the game for Notre Dame football quarterback Sam Hartman to bring his "A" game

But ultimately, despite the third-quarter surge, the Tigers held Notre Dame off the board in the fourth to capture their best win this season.

Here's what happened:

Notre Dame vs. Clemson score

Notre Dame vs. Clemson updates, highlights

Final: Clemson 31, Notre Dame 23

Fourth quarter: Clemson 31, Notre Dame 23

3:25 p.m.: Clemson wins.

3:24 p.m.: Clemson will run an offensive play with five seconds to go.

3:20 p.m.: Hartman is nearly sacked, his pass to Estime falls incomplete. Clemson ball.

3:19 p.m.: Fourth-and-10 Notre Dame after two Hartman incompletions.

3:17 p.m.: Hartman converts the first down with his legs.

3:16 p.m.: Mafah fumbles and Notre Dame recovers.

3:13 p.m.: Hartman is picked off.

3:12 p.m.: Hartman finds Faison who breaks a few tackles for the first down.

3:10 p.m.: Clemson pins Notre Dame inside the 10-yard line again.

3:04 p.m.: Mafah continues his career day by converting the first down.

3:02 p.m.: Notre Dame goes three-and-out.

2:56 p.m.: Clemson goes three-and-out, Notre Dame will start inside the 10.

2:50 p.m.: Hartman is sacked on third down.

2:44 p.m.: Clemson fumbles the snap and Klubnik falls on it for a big loss. Clemson will punt.

2:42 p.m.: Mafah rips off another big run for a first down.

2:41 p.m.: Hartman is dropped for no gain on third down and Notre Dame will punt.

Third quarter: Clemson 31, Notre Dame 23

2:34 p.m.: Hartman finds Jordan Faison for a big gain. That's the end of the third quarter.

2:32 p.m.: Klubnik is sacked for a huge loss on third-and-13. Clemson will punt.

2:30 p.m.: Notre Dame is called for offensive pass interference and goes three-and-out. Clemson is near the 50.

2:28 p.m.: Kristofic is down.

2:23 p.m.: Clemson pins Notre Dame inside the 5.

2:20 p.m.: Mafah converts another first down.

2:19 p.m.: Notre Dame is called for pass interference on Collins, Clemson first down.

Touchdown, Notre Dame! Clemson 31, Notre Dame 23

2:14 p.m.: Hartman rushes for 26 yards on the sideline for a touchdown.

2:13 p.m.: Hartman finds Tyree for another first down.

2:12 p.m.: Hartman finds Rico Flores for a 36-yard gain.

Touchdown, Clemson! Clemson 31, Notre Dame 16

2:07 p.m.: Mafah punches it in for his second touchdown of the day.

2:05 p.m.: Notre Dame pass interference. First-and-goal again for Clemson

2:04 p.m.: Klubnik finds Collins for a first-and-goal.

2:02 p.m.: Clemson is on a roll with an impressive catch from Stellato.

2:01 p.m.: Mafah's huge day continues with two big catches for first downs.

2:00 p.m.: Klubnik throws and converts the first down.

Touchdown, Notre Dame! Clemson 24, Notre Dame 16

1:57 p.m.: Estime runs it in from the 2-yard line.

1:55 p.m.: Notre Dame picks off Klubnik on third down after a pass deflects off a Clemson receiver and returns it all the way to the 2-yard line. First-and-goal, Notre Dame.

Second quarter: Clemson 24, Notre Dame 9

1:32 p.m.: Klubnik is sacked on second down and that's the end of the half. Clemson will receive when we return.

1:30 p.m.: Clemson converts on third-and-2.

1:22 p.m.: The kick is good. Notre Dame down 24-9.

1:21 p.m.: Hartman's throw is too high on third-and-goal. Notre Dame will attempt the field goal.

1:19 p.m.: Hartman finds Estime for a big gain, first-and-goal Notre Dame.

1:15 p.m.: Hartman finds Tyree for a 21-yard gain on third down.

1:14 p.m.: Hartman finds Tobias Merriweather for a first down.

Touchdown, Clemson! Clemson 24, Notre Dame 6

1:11 p.m.: Hartman is picked off and Jeremiah Trotter Jr. returns it for a touchdown.

1:10 p.m.: What would have been a 21-yard gain from Estime is wiped off the board by a holding penalty.

Touchdown, Clemson! Clemson 17, Notre Dame 6

1:06 p.m.: Klubnik finds Tyler Brown for the touchdown. Klubnik went 6 for 6 and 60 yards on the drive.

1:04 p.m.: Thomas converts on second-and-1, to bring up first-and-goal Clemson.

1:03 p.m.: Klubnik finds Beau Collins for his fourth-straight completion and Clemson is in the red zone.

1:00 p.m.: Klubnik finds Sage Ennis for an 18-yard gain. Ennis is down hurt after the play.

12:59 p.m.: Thomas converts with his legs for a Clemson first down.

12:54 p.m.: Hartman's pass is deflected on third down. Notre Dame will attempt the kick and makes the kick, Clemson 10, Notre Dame 6.

First quarter: Clemson 10, Notre Dame 3

12:49 p.m.: Hartman, under pressure, finds Holden Staes for the first down.

12:47 p.m.: Hartman breaks off a massive, 37-yard run. Irish in Clemson territory.

12:45 p.m.: Clemson makes the field goal. 10-3 Tigers.

12:43 p.m.: Klubnik's pass is incomplete on third down. That ruling is under review. Ruling on the field stands. Clemson will attempt the field goal.

12:40 p.m.: Mafah converts the first down.

12:39 p.m.: Klubnik's pass is almost intercepted by Xavier Watts but hits the ground. Third-and-3 for Clemson.

12:38 p.m.: Clemson goes three-and-out, but Chris Tyree muffs the punt and Clemson has the ball just outside the red zone.

12:34 p.m.: Sam Hartman's pass on third down is incomplete and Notre Dame will punt.

Touchdown, Clemson! Clemson 7, Notre Dame 3

12:27 p.m.: Phil Mafah runs it 41 yards into the end zone on the first play of the drive.

12:23 p.m.: Hamp Greene breaks a few tackles to return the punt to the Notre Dame 41-yard line.

12:21 p.m.: Hartman is sacked for a big loss on third down. Notre Dame goes three-and-out.

12:19 p.m.: Cade Klubnik's pass on third-and-5 is incomplete and Clemson will punt.

12:13 p.m.: The kick is good. Notre Dame leads 3-0.

12:13 p.m.: Notre Dame is stopped on third-and-10 and will attempt the 43-yard field goal.

12:11 p.m.: Estime with another huge run and Notre Dame is at the Clemson 31.

12:09 p.m.: Audric Estime rips off a huge run, hurdling multiple guys to get to the 40.

12:08 p.m.: Notre Dame will start with the ball.

Pregame

12:02 p.m.: Notre Dame is wearing their all-white uniforms.

What channel is Notre Dame vs. Clemson on today?

• TV channel: ABC

• Streaming info: ESPN App, Fubo (free trial)

Notre Dame vs. Clemson will air live on ABC. Fans looking to stream the game can do so with the ESPN app, or with Fubo, which offers a free trial.

WATCH: Notre Dame vs. Clemson live on Fubo (free trial)

What time does Notre Dame vs. Clemson start?

• Date: Saturday, Nov. 4

• Time: Noon ET

Notre Dame vs. Clemson will kick off at noon ET on Saturday, Nov. 4.

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Notre Dame vs. Clemson odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Wednesday, Nov. 1

• Spread: Notre Dame (-3)

• Over/under: 44.5

• Moneyline: Notre Dame -160 | Clemson +135

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Notre Dame 2023 football schedule

Clemson 2023 football schedule

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Notre Dame-Clemson score, updates: Irish fall short in comeback attempt