The month of November will decide whether this Clemson team has a good season or a great one.
Before the season started, the first half of the Tigers’ slate looked to be the most challenging part of the schedule, but that is not how things have worked out. With Florida State, NC State and even App State to a degree, all not having performed up to preseason expectations, Clemson mostly cruised through the first two months. Outside of the season-opener against Georgia, of course.
However, a lot has changed since that 34-3 loss in Atlanta. The Tigers now look to be on an upward trajectory and are in prime position to earn a spot in the College Football Playoff for the first time since 2020. Sitting at 6-1 overall and atop the ACC standings at 5-0 in league play, Clemson currently controls its own destiny headed into the final five games.
“We haven’t done anything yet,” starting center Ryan Linthicum said last week. “We have put ourselves in a great opportunity but like coach Swinney says, we got to make it a November to remember. So, one day at a time.”
However, locking up a spot won’t be easy, as the month of November is filled with potential pitfalls. It all starts on Saturday night as the Tigers welcome Louisville to town. The Cardinals opened as an 11-point underdog but will bring one of the more productive offenses in the country to town. They are Top 20 nationally in scoring offense and Top 10 in passing offense. Wes Goodwin’s defense will be tested like it hasn’t been since Georgia.
After that, Clemson hits the road for back-to-back games. The first stop is in Blacksburg for a matchup with Virginia Tech. The Hokies have won three straight, with blowout wins over Stanford, Georgia Tech and Boston College. The Tigers still should be a substantial favorite but Lane Stadium isn’t the easiest of venues to go into and get a win.
The following week, Clemson travels to Pitt. The Panthers have been one of the surprises of this college football season. They are currently still unbeaten. Pat Narduzzi’s team’s had multiple close calls, including barely getting by Cincinnati 28-27 in September and barely squeaking by lowly Cal 17-15 two weeks ago. This one could decide which of these two teams locks up a spot in the ACC Championship, as well as the Tigers’ playoff fate, seeing as the winner of the ACC will receive an automatic bid.
Clemson will finish up with two straight at home. The first one is against Citadel, one the Tigers should win easily. Then comes the regular-season finale against the rival Gamecocks and South Carolina beat Clemson the last time the two teams faced off in Death Valley.
Shane Beamer’s team certainly doesn’t have an offense that instills fear in its opponents, but that defense is legit. The Gamecocks are 13th in the nation in total defense, allowing less than 300 yards per game. They’re also 12th in turnovers forced, seventh in tackles for loss and third in sacks. Cade Klubnik and that offense will absolutely be challenged in that one.
Again, Clemson currently controls its own destiny, in both the ACC and for a spot in the playoff. This is a team that is currently playing with a lot of confidence but now is not the time to let up. Nothing has been accomplished as of yet.
In fact, the Tigers were in a similar position in 2022, when they won the first eight games of the season only to go 2-2 down the stretch of the regular season, including that home loss to the Gamecocks.
“We have been here before,” defensive tackles coach Nick Eason said. “We were here a couple of years ago. We were 8-0 and we did not finish the season. We gave two games away.”
However, there seems to be a little something different with this team compared to that 2022 squad. Not only with the offense’s production but also the mental mindset. This team seems to believe in themselves, even if some on the outside looking in do not. And that could make all the difference between a good season and great one.
A limited number of signed replica road signs from Cade Klubnik are available! Visit Clemson Variety & Frame or purchase online!
