Clemson doesn’t have to let that LSU loss tell the whole story anymore.
A month ago, the Tigers were buried by a 41-point road defeat in primetime over Labor Day Weekend, and it looked like that result might hang over the rest of their season. But Clemson has steadied itself with three straight wins over Georgia Southern, North Carolina, and Cal, and now gets a shot to change the conversation entirely against Miami.
That opportunity is real. Entering Week 5, Clemson and Miami are the only two ACC teams to begin conference play 2-0.
The Hurricanes are the obvious team to beat in the league, but Clemson has momentum, and this one comes at home. Even as a heavy underdog, the Tigers have a chance to go from an afterthought to a team that matters in the ACC race.
Dabo Swinney’s decision to move off Christopher Vizzina and turn to Tait Reynolds at quarterback has been a big part of that shift. It hasn’t been perfect, but Reynolds is now the third true freshman quarterback to start his Clemson career 2-0 since 1972, joining Deshaun Watson and Trevor Lawrence. If Clemson can make it 3-0, the Tigers could suddenly look like the team setting the pace in the conference.
The odds reflect just how steep the challenge is. According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Clemson is getting 16.5 points at home against Miami.
The Hurricanes are ranked in the top five, but they also arrive with some injuries and without having played in a venue like Death Valley this season. Mario Cristobal’s teams have had their share of trouble in games they were supposed to win, and this matchup has that feel.
That’s why the LSU blowout no longer has to define Clemson’s year. If the Tigers play well, or pull off the upset, the entire tone of the season changes.
LSU could wind up being a College Football Playoff team out of the SEC, and good teams do get flattened by great teams. Clemson has already lived that script.
In 2024, the Tigers were blown out in Atlanta by eventual SEC champion Georgia, then turned around and won the ACC and reached the College Football Playoff. With few remaining games that loom as large as Miami at home, Clemson still has a path to a 10-2 finish and a 7-1 mark in conference play. A shot at redemption in Charlotte is still there.
More than anything, this stretch says Clemson has rebuilt itself around a new quarterback. Reynolds is still developing, but he gives the Tigers something Vizzina did not, and he has a long runway to keep growing. Whether Clemson beats Miami or not, this is not the same team it was in Week 1.
Going from Power Four cannon fodder to a legitimate ACC contender in four weeks is no small thing.
In Other News...
Bryant Wesco Jr. Just Delivered Clemsons Special Teams Breakthrough
Bryant Wesco Jr. turned Clemsons trip to California into a special-teams milestone, breaking loose for a punt-return touchdown in the Tigers 24-10 win. For a player working his way back from a previous injury he suffered on special teams, the play carried extra meaning, and it also fit into a broader Clemson effort to sharpen a phase that has mattered plenty in the early going.
Wesco pointed to special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia as a key voice behind the units improvement, with the emphasis staying on fundamentals and effort. The returner sounded upbeat about where things are headed from here, too, suggesting this may not be the only time Clemson gets a game-changing spark from him in the return game. [Read more 🡒]
Clemson Faces A Backfield Test In Its Biggest ACC Stage Yet
Clemson heads into its biggest ACC spotlight with a major challenge already in place, as No. 4 Miami arrives as a 16.5-point favorite for the matchup in Clemson. The series is perfectly split at 7-7, but the Hurricanes are also chasing a milestone of their own, looking for their first win on Clemsons field since 2010.
The backfield picture adds another layer to the stakes for the Tigers. Clemson has to adjust after losing depth at running back, while Miami is trending the other way with its lead back set to be back in the mix after an injury absence. In a game that already carries plenty of conference weight, the matchup on the ground could loom especially large. [Read more 🡒]
Clemson Faces A Miami Threat That Could Decide Everything
Clemson heads into a huge matchup with Miami coming off a win, but the challenge waiting on the other side is the kind that can tilt an entire ACC race. Miami has looked every bit like a top-five team, and the Hurricanes bring difference-makers on both sides of the ball, from quarterback Mensah to receiver Toney to defensive tackle Ahmad Moten Sr., whose presence up front has been part of what makes that defense so difficult to handle.
The matchup becomes even more interesting with Moten expected back from an arm and shoulder injury, adding another layer to a front Clemson will have to account for from the opening snap. Mensah has also been operating at a level few teams can match, piling up big passing numbers without giving the ball away, which puts extra pressure on Clemsons defense to keep the game in front of it and force Miami into uncomfortable situations. [Read more 🡒]