Tee Higgins’ spectacular TD catch late in the second quarter of Clemson’s demolition of Notre Dame was the sign that the Tigers weren’t going to face a serious challenge from the Irish.

Clemson got the ball back from Notre Dame with less than a minute left and leading 16-3. A long completion to Hunter Renfrow on third down and a roughing the passer call set up a chance to go for the end zone with eight seconds left. And boy, did Higgins make a hell of a play. He not only caught the ball with one hand, he did it off a deflection and while falling out of the back of the end zone.

The 19-yard TD and ensuing extra point gave Clemson a 23-3 halftime lead over the Irish and effectively ended Notre Dame’s chances at a National Championship Game berth. Here are four other plays in addition to Higgins’ TD that defined Clemson’s destruction of Notre Dame.

Derion Kendrick’s fumble

The Clemson kick returner fielded Notre Dame’s kickoff after the Irish tied the game 3-3 in the first quarter. Kendricks fumbled the ball as he got hit and it was recovered by the Irish. But not before going out of bounds. Barely.

The call on the field was a clear recovery by Notre Dame, but the SEC officiating crew ruled the ball had gone out of bounds by this much.

Clemson punted on the possession but it was a better outcome than giving Notre Dame a goal-to-go situation in a tie game. Could Notre Dame have won the game had the fumble gone its way? Probably not. But maybe the game is slightly different.

Jerry Tillery’s penalty

As we referenced above, Higgins’ touchdown was set up by a big completion and a penalty. The roughing the passer call on Lawrence came via Notre Dame DL Jerry Tillery, who blatantly hit Lawrence after the pass.

The completion to Hunter Renfrow went to Notre Dame’s 34. The 15 yards tacked on from Tillery’s penalty put the ball at the Notre Dame 19 and set up Clemson for a much easier shot at the end zone.

Travis Etienne’s 62-yard TD run

The game was over at halftime. It was really over after Etienne went 62 yards to the house late in the third quarter. The run came with one yard to go on third down and Notre Dame had the chance to get the ball back with a defensive stop. Alas, Etienne burst through the left side of the line and outran everyone to the end zone for a four-possession lead.

Ian Book’s interception

Clemson had the ball for Etienne’s touchdown run after an interception by the Notre Dame quarterback. The Irish were facing third-and-22 at the Clemson 44 when Book threw a pass into traffic down the middle of the field and it was picked off by Nolan Turner. A penalty brought Turner’s return all the way back to the Clemson 29, but that simply delayed Notre Dame’s farewell from the College Football Playoff.

Book was Notre Dame’s best offensive player on Saturday night but he also had two turnovers. He fumbled the ball on the Irish’s second possession of the game and that set up a Clemson field goal. Clemson’s beatdown is far more complex than two turnovers leading to 10 Tiger points, but the two turnovers helped turn a convincing win into a blowout.

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Nick Bromberg is a writer for Yahoo Sports.

Follow @NickBromberg on Twitter

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