Third-ranked Clemson hosts NC State on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Clemson (Noon, ABC). The Tigers enter this game having won 12 consecutive ACC games and has won the last four meetings with the Wolfpack in their series and 11 of the last 12.
This game also showcases two of the top quarterbacks in the nation in Clemson’s Deshaun Watson, a Heisman Trophy candidate, and NC State’s Ryan Finley, who ranks eighth nationally in pass completion percentage (.695) and 13th in pass efficiency (161.1).
About NC State: NC State comes to Clemson off a 10-3 win over Notre Dame last Saturday in Raleigh, N.C. The victory improved the Pack to 4-1 for the third consecutive year. The game was played in hurricane conditions, similar to Clemson’s two-point win over the Irish at almost the same date on the calendar last year.
NC State’s offense: Running back Matt Dayes is third in the ACC in rushing at 109 yards a game. Finley has completed 89-of-128 passes, a 69.5 percentage, fourth best in the nation. He has thrown for 1,045 yards and nine touchdowns and is yet to throw an interception. He averages 209 passing yards per game and has quarterbacked the NC State offense to 34 points and 444 yards per game. Tight end / H-back Jalen Samuels leads the team in receptions with 21 for 191 yards and four scores, while Stephen Louis averages 25 yards per catch and leads the team in reception yards with 328.
NC State’s defense: Bradley Chubb, the brother of Georgia running back Nick Chubb, leads the NC State team in tackles for loss with 8.5. Airius Moore leads the team in tackles with 34, including seven tackles for loss. The Wolfpack ranks eighth nationally in total defense (279.8) and eight in rushing defense (91.0).
Records: Clemson 6-0, 3-0 ACC; NC State 4-1, 1-0 ACC
Clemson injury report: Adrian Baker, DB, Knee, Questionable; Austin Bryant, DE, foot, Probable; Jalen Williams, LB, Knee, Probable; Hunter Renfrow, WR, Hand, Probable; Mike Williams, WR, leg, Probable; Tremayne Anchrum, OT, sprained ankle, Out.
Series record: Clemson leads 55-28-1
First meeting: Clemson won 24-0 in 1899
Last meeting: Clemson won 56-41 at NC State
Streak: Clemson has won four in a row overall in the series and six straight at Clemson
Stat worth noting: Clemson’s win over Boston College was its 12th consecutive against ACC competition, a streak that dates back to the beginning of the 2015 season. That ties for the ninth longest winning streak of ACC games in league history. The Tigers longest winning streak in the ACC is 20 games which went from 1981-’84.
Second stat worth noting: The Tigers have been scoring in quick fashion the last four games. Clemson has scored 23 touchdowns and has two field goals for 25 total scoring drives the last four games for a total of 56 offensive possessions. Clemson has had a scoring drive under two minutes 14 of those 25 scoring drive, including seven drives under a minute. The Tigers had an incredible five touchdown drives of less than a minute in the win over Louisville.
Third stat worth noting: Clemson is third in the nation in defensive three-and-outs. Clemson has forced 39 three-and-outs in six games, an average of 6.5 per game. Only Michigan with 7.5 per game and Alabama with 6.67 per game, are ahead of the Tigers. Clemson has forced a three and out 47 percent of its defensive possessions. That is also third best nationally on a per possession basis. Michigan has forced 45 three and outs in 80 possessions for 56.2 percent and Alabama is second at an even 50 percent (40 of 80).