CLEMSON – After having last weekend off, No. 11 Clemson returns to action on Saturday when Louisville comes to town.
After having lost at home to both Miami and SMU last month, the Cardinals (5-3, 3-2) get another shot at one of the teams still unbeaten in ACC play. Although, this time they will have to go on the road and overcome a hostile environment, something they were not able to do in South Bend against Notre Dame.
“I think the atmosphere will be what college football is all about, I’m sure it’ll be popping, and they’ll be ready to play,” head coach Jeff Brohm said. “It’s good for our team to play in those environments. We’ve been able to do that on our home field, but now we’re going on the road, just like at Notre Dame, and play in a great atmosphere in a big-time game.”
After watching its offense sputter in a 34-3 loss to Georgia to start the season, Clemson has experienced a rejuvenation on that side of the ball since that afternoon in Atlanta.
“They have worked through a couple of ups and downs along the way and played a really tough opponent the first week,” Brohm said. “Really it was a close game until the second half when a few things didn’t go their way. Guess what, they fixed those for the last six games and have been lights out. They’re playing really good football and are hitting on all cylinders.”
The Tigers come in having won six straight, with all six coming in blowout fashion and Brohm knows his team is preparing to face off with a Clemson team that is playing well in all three phases.
“They’re good up front on defense, they’re athletic at linebacker and in the secondary,” the head coach said. “On offense, the quarterback is playing at a high level and has good weapons around him. They have good balance and they’re really good at home. I think (Dabo Swinney) feels great about the direction his team is going. They have a chance to be as good as anybody. We will have our hands full going and playing a team this hot on their home field.”
Where Clemson might have seen the biggest improvement is in the play of quarterback Cade Klubnik. The Tigers are Top 5 in scoring offense and Top 20 in passing offense, while the Cardinals are No. 72 in scoring defense and No. 75 in pass defense.
Klubnik has a bevvy of weapons at his disposal and slowing that offense down won’t be easy.
“Once again, we have to stop a good quarterback,” Brohm added. “We’ve got to find ways to be better than we have and find ways to limit big plays and make them earn it. It’ll be important that we try and do that.”
A limited number of signed replica road signs from Cade Klubnik are available! Visit Clemson Variety & Frame or purchase online!
