Clemson comes out of its off week with a very familiar kind of Saturday waiting at Memorial Stadium: an FCS opponent, a massive spread, and the expectation that anything short of a clean, comfortable win will leave people wanting more.
The Tigers host Charleston Southern at noon on the ACC Network, with Roxy Bernstein, Dave Clawson and Madison Hock on the call. The game will also stream on ESPN or the ESPN app, with radio coverage on 105.5 FM in the Clemson area and satellite coverage on Sirius XM Channel 110 or 248. Clemson has beaten Charleston Southern in the only previous meeting, which came in 2023.
FanDuel has Clemson installed as a 42.5-point favorite, easily the biggest number the Tigers have seen as a favorite this season. Their previous high was 19.5 points against Georgia Southern.
There’s at least some encouraging news on the injury front. Because Charleston Southern is a non-conference opponent, Clemson does not have to file an availability report, but coach Dabo Swinney said the overall health picture is trending up after the off week. The biggest development is transfer defensive tackle Kourtney Kelly, who is expected to make his Clemson debut after missing the start of the season with a torn ACL.
The weather should cooperate, too. AccuWeather’s forecast for Clemson calls for “Sunny, cooler and less humid” conditions, with a high of 67 degrees and light winds. No rain is expected.
And yes, Clemson should win. That part is not really up for debate.
The bigger question is how the Tigers look doing it. This is the sort of game where the details matter: Are they sharp?
Do they avoid the sloppy mistakes that have followed them at times? Can quarterback Tait Reynolds stay away from the kind of turnovers that undercut drives?
Can Clemson finally deliver the kind of one-sided performance it has been chasing?
That has not been a given against lighter opponents. Clemson didn’t fully separate from Georgia Southern earlier this year, and Furman in 2025 was another uneven showing.
Even the 2023 Charleston Southern game had its bumps, with Clemson trailing 14-7 in the first quarter after a Cade Klubnik fumble and pick-six. And when the Tigers rolled past The Citadel in 2024, they still allowed 288 rushing yards.
Swinney said it plainly on the radio this week: “We need to dominate somebody.”
That may still be a tall order, even with a clear talent gap. But after the open date, this is the kind of matchup that gives Clemson a chance to straighten out some of the rough edges - penalties, offensive line play, and the kind of execution that has been inconsistent in bigger moments.
The Tigers should control this one from start to finish, even if they leave a little room for improvement.
Score prediction: Clemson 35, Charleston Southern 10
Clemson’s 2026 schedule, with known channels and kick times: Sept. 5: at No.
11 LSU, L 51-10 Sept. 12: vs.
Georgia Southern, W 22-7 Sept. 19: vs.
UNC, W 28-20 Sept.
25 (Friday): at Cal, W, 24-10 Oct. 3: vs.
No. 4 Miami, L 41-13
Oct. 10: OPEN
Oct. 17: vs. Charleston Southern, noon (ACCN)
Oct. 24: vs. Virginia Tech, 7 p.m.
OR 7:30 p.m. (ESPN OR ESPN2)
Oct. 31: at Florida State Nov. 7: at Syracuse
Nov. 14: vs. Georgia Tech
Nov. 20 (Friday): at Duke, 7:30 p.m.
(ESPN) Nov. 28: vs.
South Carolina
In Other News...
Clemson Secondary Faces Its Next Test After A Costly Defensive Loss
Clemsons secondary has been one of the steadier parts of a season that has not gone smoothly overall, and Corey Myrick has emerged as a notable presence after leading the team in tackles through five games. Coming out of the bye week, the Tigers are trying to reset their defense with Charleston Southern next on the schedule, while also sharpening the basics that have been a recurring issue, especially tackling and overall consistency.
The immediate challenge comes with a personnel change in the nickel spot, where Corian Gipson is out for the season after meniscus surgery. Auburn transfer Donovan Starr is expected to step in, which gives Clemson a new look in the middle of its defensive backfield at a time when the unit is still trying to stabilize itself. For a secondary that has carried more weight than expected, the next stretch will say a lot about how quickly it can absorb the loss and keep the defense from slipping further. [Read more 🡒]
Clemson's Playoff Future Comes With A Dabo Era Catch
The College Football Playoff could be on the verge of another major shift, and for Clemson it could change the path back to relevance in a hurry. A reported move from 12 teams to 24 starting in the 2027-28 season would open the door wider for programs that are still good enough to matter but not always elite enough to live near the top of the rankings, which is exactly the space Clemson has occupied more often lately.
For a program that built its modern identity around playoff runs, that kind of expansion comes with a catch. More access could mean more postseason appearances for Clemson, but it also risks making those trips feel less rare and less meaningful, especially if the field grows to the point where the standard is no longer what it used to be. The Tigers might benefit from the new format, but the bigger question is what that benefit says about where the program and the sport are headed. [Read more 🡒]
Dabo Sees One Missing Piece In Tait Reynolds' Game
Tait Reynolds has shown enough as a passer to keep Clemson interested in what comes next, but the true freshman quarterbacks rushing numbers have not yet matched the skill set that made him such an intriguing option. Through this season, Reynolds has only 61 yards on 55 carries, a figure that underscores how little damage he has done with his legs despite the talent there.
Dabo Swinney has made it clear he wants to see more of that part of Reynolds game, believing Clemson could benefit if the quarterback becomes a more effective threat on the ground. For an offense looking to broaden its options, getting Reynolds more involved as a runner could add another layer of versatility, though the bigger question is how quickly that piece starts showing up on the field. [Read more 🡒]