Clemson has done exactly what it needed to do through two ACC games: handle business and stay near the top of the league race.
The Tigers opened conference play with wins over North Carolina and California, giving Dabo Swinney’s team a 2-0 start in the ACC. That matters because Clemson was in the opposite position a year ago, when it dropped its first two league games.
This time, the Tigers are one of six ACC teams still unbeaten in conference play, and they’re one of just two with two wins already. Miami is the other, after beating Wake Forest and Stanford.
That top tier is crowded, though, and Clemson will see plenty of those contenders later in the season. Duke, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Pitt are all 1-0 in ACC play. One of those records is guaranteed to change Friday night, when Virginia Tech and Pitt meet in Blacksburg.
Clemson’s own path still includes several of those teams. The Tigers host Virginia Tech on Oct. 17 and later head to Durham on Nov. 20 for a Friday night game against Duke, a matchup that would also give Clemson a chance to end a two-game skid against the Blue Devils. There’s even a chance that late-November meeting could carry ACC Championship implications.
The Tigers’ most recent opponent, Cal, is sitting at 1-1 in league play along with Wake Forest, Louisville and SMU. Louisville had beaten SMU two weeks earlier, then lost at home to Wake Forest this past weekend. That kind of churn at the top only helps Clemson if it keeps winning and lets the standings sort themselves out around it.
For now, the rest of Clemson’s ACC schedule is mostly filled with teams still searching for their first conference win. Florida State lost its lone ACC game to SMU, Georgia Tech fell to Stanford on the road last weekend and Syracuse is 0-2 to open league play. Clemson still has Georgia Tech at home, but it must travel to Tallahassee and Syracuse for the other two.
The immediate challenge is Miami. Clemson hosts the No.
4 Hurricanes at Memorial Stadium this weekend, and the Tigers enter as a multiple-touchdown underdog. An upset would change everything: Swinney’s team would be in the driver’s seat in the ACC heading into a bye week and then a non-conference game against Charleston Southern on Oct.
That’s the dream scenario. But Clemson still has 60 minutes on Saturday before any of that becomes real.
In Other News...
Dabo Sends Clemson A Clear Warning Before Miami Arrives
The road win gave Clemson a useful reminder of what can travel well, and Dabo Swinney made sure to point to the defense and the kind of finishing drive that can change the tone of a game. He also noted how the quarterback worked through a difficult night, while still stressing confidence in the players growth as the Tigers move deeper into the season.
Now the focus shifts to a home meeting with a strong opponent, and Swinney didnt shy away from the challenge of getting the team back into rhythm after the travel and the quick turnaround. The warning was clear enough: Clemson handled one tough test on the road, but the next one asks for a different level of readiness, especially with Miami coming to town. [Read more 🡒]
Clemson Took A Brutal Backfield Hit Before Miami
Clemsons backfield took another hit heading into a pivotal stretch, with running back David Eziomume expected to miss the rest of the season after suffering a leg injury against California. Coach Dabo Swinney confirmed the news and said Eziomume will need surgery, a tough turn for a Tigers offense already managing injuries elsewhere on the roster.
The timing is especially rough with Miami looming, and Clemson is now trying to sort through a thinner mix of options while keeping the rest of the lineup intact. Swinney also said starting guard Elyjah Thurmon, nickel Corian Gipson and defensive tackle Devarrick Woods are dealing with short-term injuries, which at least leaves some reason to think the list of sidelined Tigers may not keep growing much further. [Read more 🡒]
Clemson Just Got A Tougher Miami Test Than Expected
Miamis trip to Clemson is looking a little sturdier than it might have earlier in the week. Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal said running back Mark Fletcher Jr. and defensive tackle Ahmad Moten Sr. are expected to be available for the matchup, giving Miami a pair of key pieces back after both missed the Central Michigan game.
Both players were held out as a precaution after minor injuries against Wake Forest, and Cristobal said they are healthy and ready to return. For Clemson, that adds a little more heft to a game already carrying the usual weight of an ACC showdown, especially with Miami likely to be closer to full strength than it was in its last outing. [Read more 🡒]