Clemson Gets Its Biggest Home Test Yet In Prime Time

Clemson prepares to host the high-flying Miami Hurricanes, with ESPN favoring the visitors in this prime-time ACC showdown.

Clemson’s next trip to Memorial Stadium now has a spotlight and a start time.

The ACC announced Saturday night that the Tigers’ game against No. 6 Miami will kick off Oct. 3 at 7:30 p.m. ABC will carry the matchup.

The league had placed the game on a six-day hold, leaving the start time unsettled until late Saturday as ACC teams wrapped up their Week 4 slate. That delay is now over, and Clemson knows its next home game will come under the lights.

Miami arrives as the highest-ranked team on Clemson’s 2026 schedule and the only AP Top 25 team still left on the Tigers’ slate. Mario Cristobal’s Hurricanes are 4-0 overall and 2-0 in the ACC after finishing as the national runner-up to Indiana last year. Their offense has been rolling behind former Duke quarterback Darian Mensah, averaging 51.7 points and 594.3 yards per game.

ESPN’s Football Power Index gives Miami an 85.2% chance to beat Clemson in Death Valley.

Clemson, under Dabo Swinney, is 3-1 and 2-0 in the ACC after Friday’s win at Cal. Miami also played Saturday, beating Central Michigan 52-3.

With the kickoff locked in, Clemson’s schedule now includes a primetime ACC clash before an open date the following week. The Tigers’ remaining known kickoff time comes Nov. 20 at Duke, a Friday night game set for 7:30 p.m. on ESPN.

2026 Clemson football schedule

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.

6 Miami, 7:30 p.m. (ABC)

Oct. 10: OPEN

Oct. 17: vs. Charleston Southern

Oct. 24: vs. Virginia Tech

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

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