The 12th-ranked Clemson Tigers will open the 2015 football season on Saturday in Death Valley when they host Wofford at 12:30 p.m. The game will be televised by the ACC Network. The Tigers are 88-23-8 (.779), regardless of site, in their first game in the previous 119 seasons.
About Wofford: Wofford is looking for a return to the FCS Playoffs after missing the postseason in 2014 with a 6-5 overall record and a 4-3 mark in the Southern Conference. It was the 11th winning season in the last 13 years for the Terriers. The Terriers return a total of 10 starters on offense and eight starters on defense, along with two specialists. Players named to watch include OL Anton Wahrby and P Brian Sanders, RB Lorenzo Long, OL T.J. Chamberlin, DL E.J. Speller, LB Terrance Morris, LB Drake Michaelson and RS Will Gay.
Wofford’s offense: Last season among FCS teams, Wofford finished third in the nation in rushing. Evan Jacks was the starter in the first six games at quarterback. He was 30-of-50 passing with three touchdowns and three interceptions. Michael Weimer started the last five games and was 28-of-54 passing with two touchdowns. Lorenzo Long was first in rushing with 930 yards on 163 carries and 15 touchdowns. Ray Smith added 601yards on 67 carries with three touchdowns. Will Irwin was the leading receiver with 289 yards on 19 catches with two touchdowns.
Wofford’s defense: Linebacker Drake Michaelson and strong safety Jaleel Green were second on the team with 55 tackles each. Terrance Morris had 7.5 tackles for loss and a team-best 4.0 sacks, while Tyler Vaughn had seven tackles behind the line of scrimmage. Cornerback Brion Anderson had three interceptions, which tied for third in the Southern Conference.
Series record: Clemson leads 11-3
First meeting: 1896: Clemson won 16-0
Last meeting: 2011: Clemson won 35-27
Last Wofford win: 14-13 in 1933
Stat worth noting: When Mitch Hyatt starts the game at left tackle on Saturday, he will become the first true freshman to start the first game of a season since Phil Prince in 1944. Prince, who still lives in Clemson, started the first seven games that year.
Second stat worth noting: Clemson has won 23 of its last 30 season openers. That includes a 10-5 record the last 15 years when Clemson has played its most challenging season-opening games. Clemson has lost four of its last 13 season-opening games, but all four were to top 25 teams, three times to Georgia (2002, 2003 and 2014) and in 2008 to Alabama in a game played in Atlanta. Clemson has played eight openers against top 25 teams in the last 16 years after having played just five top 25 teams in opening games between 1936 (first year of the AP poll) and 1999.
Third stat worth noting: Clemson is a perfect 29-0 against FCS teams. The Division was formed prior to the 1978 season. Southern Conference schools became I-AA in 1982. Clemson has won 28 of the 29 games by at least double digits. The only exception came when Clemson defeated Wofford 35-27 in 2011. Wofford’s 27 points are the most by an FCS school against Clemson.
Memorable game: Clemson defeated Wofford 45-10 on September 5, 1981, exactly 34 years ago on Saturday. That was the season opener of Clemson’s National Championship season. The score was tied 3-3 at the end of the first period. Midway through the second quarter Homer Jordan found Perry Tuttle for an 80-yard touchdown pass, and on the next possession, Jordan completed an eight-play, 76-yard drive with a 14-yard touchdown run around the left side for a 17-3 halftime lead. Clemson cruised from there and then won the next 11 games on its way to the national championship.