Travis Etienne breaks Clemson career rushing record in national championship game
On the biggest stage, in potentially his final game in a Clemson uniform, Tigers junior running back Travis Etienne made some history in the College Football Playoff championship game on Monday night.
With a five-yard run in the first quarter, Etienne surpassed Raymond Priester’s program record of 3,966 career rushing yards. That run also set up a one-yard touchdown rush from quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Etienne already holds Clemson’s career rushing touchdowns record, single-season rushing yards record and single-season rushing touchdowns record.
Etienne surpassed the record in 43 career games in three season, compared to 46 in four for Priester. As a junior, he could potentially return to extend his record next season, but he is also considered a top running back prospect for the 2020 NFL draft should he choose to leave. He has yet to announce his intention.
Early in the second quarter of Monday’s title game, Etienne had 66 yards on nine attempts, including a tough 29-yard run to help set up another touchdown. He also surpassed 4,000 career yards on the ground, becoming only the ninth player in ACC history to do so.
Etienne needs 123 on the night to surpass his own single-season rushing yards record from 2018.
This story was originally published January 13, 2020 at 9:28 PM.
