It does not matter to Dabo Swinney if his ninth-ranked Clemson team opens against a Georgia or Auburn every year or a Wofford or App. State. Either one has its advantages, but neither will play a role in whether the Tigers win or loss Thursday night’s ACC opener at Louisville.

“We just play the schedule they give us,” the Clemson head coach said as part of the ACC’s Coaches Teleconference on Wednesday.

Like Louisville did this year, when it played Auburn in the Chick-fil-A Classic, the Tigers opened the previous three seasons against an SEC foe. Clemson beat Auburn in the Chick-fil-A Classic to open the 2012 season, and then defeated Georgia in Death Valley to kick off the 2013 year. The Bulldogs returned the favor in Athens to start the 2014 season.

And though having those experiences and going 2-1 in those games arguably helped the Tigers at times the last three years, Swinney says it various from time-to-time based on a team’s roster.

“I don’t really put a whole lot of thought into that. I think the last three years we’ve opened up with a really difficult challenge and went 2-1 in those games, and those are difficult games, just like Louisville this year,” he said. “People look at they’re 0-2, but this is a good football team that’s going to have an excellent year, regardless of what happens tomorrow night. There’s no doubt. Those games are hard to play. They’re good when you win, but they’re really difficult. But I think win or lose, you grow your team either way in those types of games.”

Based on Clemson’s roster, Swinney feels the experiences his young team received in the Wofford and App. State games have been just as beneficial, if not more, as what the three previous teams received in playing an SEC opponent to start the year.

“We didn’t open up with a Georgia this year, but I think we’ve grown our team. It’s nice to be 2-0 and to be able to play a lot of guys, but we didn’t go into it planning it that way,” Swinney said. “We went in just like we were playing Georgia, same mentality, all in. Everybody is trying to … we’ve got a great game plan, and you need to just respond to the game.”

Clemson was able to play 27 true and redshirt freshmen in the first two games. That’s maybe something that might not have happened had they opened the year against Georgia or Auburn.

“It has worked out well where I think we’ve been able to develop some guys and hopefully that’s going to pay off for us because one of the bigger concerns for us this year is just developing our depth. We’ve got a bunch of young guys that got to learn how to play.”