LSU

Coming off an SEC Championship and a heartbreaking shutout loss in the 2012 BCS National Championship Game, the Tigers were early favorites to return to the national title game. However, despite a stellar 6–2 record in conference play, the Tigers finished one game behind the same Alabama Crimson Tide which had defeated them for the national title the previous January, being denied even a secondary BCS bowl game because of the two-team limit as well as the Florida Gators occupying that second spot.

LSU entered the game with a defense that allowed only 16.9 points per game and 297.8 total yards per game. Leading LSU's defense was led by linebacker Kevin Minter, who led LSU's defense with 111 tackles.^[4]

This was LSU's sixth Chick-fil-A Bowl; they had previously appeared in the 2008 game against Georgia Tech, where they won the game 38–3. LSU held a 5–0 record in the bowl game coming into the game.^[5]

Clemson

Coming off an ACC Championship, the Tigers kept their success going, actually finishing with a better record (both overall and in conference play) than their previous season, with their 7–1 conference record leading to an Atlantic Division Co-Championship. However, they would lose the tiebreaker to the other co-champion, the Florida State Seminoles, keeping the Tigers out of the 2012 ACC Championship Game.

Clemson entered the game averaging 42.3 points per game and 518.3 yards of total offense per game. Leading Clemson's offense was quarterback Tajh Boyd, who came into the game with 3,550 passing yards and 34 touchdown passes. The offense was also led by running back Andre Ellington and wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. Clemson was less impressive on the defense, however, allowing more than 27 points in half of its games.^[4]

This was Clemson's eighth Chick-fil-A Bowl; they had previously appeared in the 2007 game against Auburn, where they lost the game, 20–23. Clemson held a 2–5 record in the bowl game coming into the game.^[5]

First quarter

Clemson fumbled on the second play of the game after LSU's Barkevious Mingo forced Clemson's Sammy Watkins to fumble. Watkins suffered a right ankle injury on the fumble and sat out the rest of the game. Taking advantage of the fumble, LSU jumped to a 7–0 lead on a 17-yard touchdown run from Jeremy Hill. Clemson was able to respond on its next drive, tying the game 7–7 on an 11-yard touchdown run from Tajh Boyd. The rest of the first quarter remained scoreless as the two teams exchanged punts.^[1][6][7]

Second quarter

LSU opened the second quarter with a 3-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Zach Mettenberger to Spencer Ware to go up 14–7. Clemson was able to respond with an 11-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Tajh Boyd to DeAndre Hopkins. The point after attempt was blocked, however, making the score 14–13. The score remained 14–13 in LSU's favor going into halftime.^[1][6][7]

Third quarter

Clemson was held scoreless in the third quarter as LSU was able to further extend their lead. LSU opened the third quarter with a 57-yard touchdown run from Jeremy Hill to make the score 21–13. After forcing Clemson's Andre Ellington to fumble, LSU was able to extend their lead 24–13 on a 20-yard field goal from Drew Alleman.^[1][6][7]

Fourth quarter

Clemson's defense dominated the fourth quarter, as Clemson held LSU to only 1 yard of offense. Clemson was able to cut into LSU's lead early in the fourth quarter on a 26-yard field goal from Chandler Catanzaro to make the score 24–16. After forcing LSU to punt, Clemson was able to once again cut into LSU's lead on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Tajh Boyd to DeAndre Hopkins. The subsequent two-point conversion was unsuccessful, however, making the score 24–22 with 2:47 left in regulation. On LSU's next possession, LSU was unable to run out the clock or force Clemson to use any timeouts, thanks to a couple of incomplete passes from Zach Mettenberger. LSU punted the ball away, giving Clemson the ball back with only 1:39 left in regulation at Clemson's own 20-yard line.^[1][6][7]

Clemson's drive started poorly, as Tajh Boyd failed to complete his first two passes of the drive. On the third play of the drive, Tajh Boyd was sacked by Sam Montgomery. Facing a 4th and 16 at their own 14-yard line, Clemson was able to keep the drive alive on a 26-yard pass from Boyd to DeAndre Hopkins. Tajh Boyd was then able to lead Clemson to LSU's 20-yard line to set up a 37-yard field goal attempt for Chandler Catanzaro. Catanzaro was able to kick the field goal as time expired, giving Clemson a 25–24 victory over LSU.^[1][6][7]

Game notes

With the victory, Clemson recorded its first 11 win season since its 1981 season. In addition, Clemson's DeAndre Hopkins set an ACC record for most consecutive game with a touchdown catch, at 10. The 2012 Chick-fil-A bowl also marked LSU's first loss to an ACC team since 1955.^[1] Hopkins also set Chick-Fil-A/Peach Bowl records for receptions and receiving yards (13 receptions, 191 yards). Clemson also set Bowl records for most total first downs by one team (32), offensive plays by one team (100), and held LSU to a Bowl record low for offensive plays by a team (48).^[8]