T.J. Moore Extends Catch Streak to 31 Games as Clemson Beats Cal in Berkeley

Some nights the box score tells the whole story. Friday night in Berkeley was not one of them. T.J. Moore caught three passes for 24 yards in Clemson's 24 to 10 win over California at California Memorial Stadium, and in doing so he pushed one of the steadiest streaks in the program to a new mark: 31 consecutive games with a reception, tying Jake Briningstool for the ninth longest run in Clemson history.

On a night when the Tigers leaned on their ground game, their defense and a quarterback making his first career road start, Moore did what he has done for 31 straight games. He found space, he caught the football, and he gave Clemson a dependable target when it needed one.

The Stat Line

Moore finished with three receptions for 24 yards on five targets, with a long of 13. Quarterback Tait Reynolds completed 13 of 21 passes for 108 yards in his first career start away from home, which means Moore accounted for more than a fifth of Clemson's receiving yardage in a game built around the run.

Through four games, the junior from Key West now has 21 catches for 196 yards and a touchdown this season.

Key Moments

Moore set the tone early. In the first quarter, Reynolds found him over the middle for a 13 yard gain, his longest catch of the night and the grab that officially extended the streak to 31 games.

In the second quarter he worked underneath in the red zone, hauling in a 5 yard catch deep in Cal territory during a quarter in which Clemson erased a 7 to 3 deficit and took a lead it never gave back.

Late in the fourth quarter, with Clemson backed up near its own goal line and protecting a two score lead, Reynolds went back to his most reliable target. Moore caught a 6 yard pass at the Clemson 9 in the final two minutes, a quiet but important play as the Tigers closed out their first regular season win in the state of California.

The Bigger Picture

The headlines belonged to a group effort. Running back Gideon Davidson ran for 159 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries, including a 75 yard score in the fourth quarter. Bryant Wesco Jr. returned a punt 65 yards for a touchdown, Clemson's first punt return score since 2018, and cornerback Elliot Washington II intercepted two passes as the defense limited Cal's offense to three points.

Head coach Dabo Swinney liked what he saw from the whole roster. "Two games in a row, we've played some complementary football," Swinney said. "When we do, it's a really good thing."

That formula has Clemson at 3 and 1 overall and 2 and 0 in ACC play. The win also evened the Tigers' all time series with Cal at one game apiece.

For Moore, the Cal game adds another steady chapter to a strong start. He opened the season with four catches for 31 yards at No. 11 LSU, a night in which he passed 100 career receptions and 1,500 career receiving yards. He followed with a team high seven catches for 103 yards and a touchdown against Georgia Southern, then posted a team high seven receptions against North Carolina, a game that made him just the 12th player in Clemson history to catch a pass in 30 consecutive games.

That consistency is nothing new. As a sophomore in 2025, Moore caught 52 passes for 837 yards and four touchdowns and earned third team All ACC honors. He now owns 118 career receptions for 1,684 yards and 10 touchdowns.

The national spotlight has noticed. CBS Sports analyst Blake Brockermeyer ranked Moore No. 25 on his list of 32 future stars who could define the 2027 NFL Draft, writing that Moore "is a long, rangy receiver with a large catch radius and natural hands. He beats press coverage and can play both inside and outside, offering a high ceiling."

Looking Ahead

The stage gets bigger next week. Clemson returns home to Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 3, to host No. 6 Miami in a major ACC showdown. A catch against the Hurricanes would give Moore 32 straight games with a reception, moving him past Briningstool and into sole possession of ninth place in program history.

Death Valley, a top ten opponent and a new milestone within reach. T.J. Moore will be ready.