CLEMSON — For the second week in a row, the Clemson Tigers will take on a team that plays with the same personality and tenacity as its head coach.

Last week, the Tigers had to deal with Brent Key’s Georgia Tech squad, who is as tough and as physical as anyone Clemson will see this season. On Saturday, the Tigers will have to fend off the Syracuse Orange, who play with the same fire and tenacity their head coach coaches with.

In 2024, Brown led the Orange to a 10-3 season in just his first year. And though his Orange like to throw the football all over the place, they can run the football and be physical too.

“He is a good coach. That is why they hired him to be a head coach,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said. “He is a defensive guy. They had a great year last year. They play tough, they play physical, and they chase the ball. I think he has done an amazing job.”

Syracuse quarterback Steve Angeli leads the nation with 1,072 passing yards with eight touchdowns and two interceptions. However, Swinney warns that Angeli is not just a gunslinger.

“I think he runs better than people want to give him credit for,” the Clemson coach said. “They will run some zone-read with him. He will throw it. He is a good scrambler.

“He may not be Haynes King, but he is very aware in the pocket. He has good instincts. They are not afraid to run him, that’s for sure. He is definitely a guy that will throw all over the park, but some of their big plays come from using his feet and creating some space. Off schedule type plays. He does a good job of that.”

Clemson (1-2, 0-1 ACC) will find out just how good Saturday when the Orange (2-1, 0-0 ACC) visit Memorial Stadium for a noon kick. The game will be televised by ESPN.

–photo by Brett Davis / Imagn Images