Clemson opens ACC play Saturday at Memorial Stadium, and the matchup brings North Carolina to town for a noon kickoff on ESPN.
The Tigers come in at 1-1 after a rough start to the season followed by a much cleaner performance last week. Clemson was blown out 51-10 by LSU in Baton Rouge on Sept. 5, then bounced back at home Sept. 12 with a 22-7 win over Georgia Southern.
North Carolina arrives unbeaten at 2-0. The Tar Heels opened with a 15-10 win over TCU in Dublin during Week 0, then handled ETSU 35-3 in Week 2. Running back Demon June scored three rushing touchdowns in that win, while Wisconsin transfer Billy Edwards Jr. passed for 244 yards and two touchdowns.
This is only the second meeting between the teams since Clemson beat UNC 38-10 in Chapel Hill last season. The Tigers own the all-time edge at 41-19-1 and have won the last seven matchups, the longest streak in the history of the series.
Betting markets have Clemson favored by 5.5 points, with the over/under set at 44.5. ESPN gives the Tigers a 53.3% chance to win.
The Tar Heels are led by second-year coach Bill Belichick, the longtime NFL coach who is 6-8 overall and 2-6 in ACC play at UNC. He signed a five-year, $50 million contract in 2025.
ESPN will carry the game on TV, and streaming is available on Disney Plus with a subscription or a TV provider login that includes ESPN. Radio coverage is available on 98.5 FM in Charleston, with statewide affiliates listed elsewhere.
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Clemsons QB Battle Just Took A Turn Fans Cant Ignore
Clemsons quarterback picture shifted again this week when Dabo Swinney announced that freshman Tait Reynolds will start Saturdays ACC game against North Carolina. The move comes after Christopher Vizzina was limited by a left arm injury in the previous game, but Swinney said the decision is being made on performance, not simply availability, which makes this turn all the more notable for a team still sorting out the position.
Vizzina is expected to be available as Reynolds backup, leaving Clemson with a new starter and a familiar question hovering over the offense. Reynolds now gets the chance to prove he can steady the job in a conference game, while the Tigers wait to see whether this is a one-game adjustment or the beginning of a deeper change under center. [Read more 🡒]
Dabo Swinney Suddenly Faces Pressure Clemson Fans Never Expected
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The tension only grew after the Week 2 win over Georgia Southern, which did little to calm the unease around the program, and Swinneys postgame clash with a media member only added to the scrutiny. In a sport where patience can disappear quickly when expectations are high, Clemsons situation now sits alongside other high-profile coaches facing pressure for very different reasons, leaving Swinneys tenure a topic no one around the program thought would be in play this early. [Read more 🡒]
Clemson Leaves Week 2 With One Growing Concern Fans Can't Ignore
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The bigger concern for Clemson came up front, where the protection and interior blocking looked shaky enough to leave a lingering question heading into the next stretch. The Tigers got the result they needed, but they also came away knowing the offense still has work to do before it can feel comfortable, especially if the line issues continue to put more pressure on everything behind it. [Read more 🡒]