CLEMSON – It is game day at Death Valley where Clemson looks to rebound and get some momentum heading into the bye week.

The Tigers hope to earn their first ACC win over the season.

Location: Memorial Stadium (Death Valley)

Kickoff: Noon

Television: ESPN

Announcers: Kris Budden, Louis Riddick, Bob Wischusen

2025 Record: Clemson 1-2,  Syracuse 2-1

ACC Record: Clemson 0-1, Syracuse 0-0

Series History: Clemson leads series 10-2

Last Meeting:  Clemson defeated Syracuse 31-14 on September 30, 2023

Clemson will play its final contest of September on Saturday, Sept. 20 when the Tigers host the Syracuse Orange. Kickoff at Memorial Stadium in Clemson is set for noon ET on ESPN.

Clemson will seek to rebound from a last-second defeat in the Tigers’ conference opener at Georgia Tech last week. Clemson overcame a 13-point second quarter deficit and a seven-point fourth-quarter deficit in the contest, but a 55-yard walk-off field goal gave the Yellow Jackets the victory. The defeat marked Clemson’s first time losing in the final seconds of regulation since Pitt defeated Clemson’s 2016 national championship team on a field goal with six seconds to play.

Despite Clemson’s 1-2 start, several key contributors emerged through the regular season’s first quarter. This past offseason, Clemson sought a transfer at defensive end that could provide instant impact, and the Tigers have received what they sought in the form of junior Will Heldt. After spending his first two seasons at Purdue, Heldt leads Clemson in sacks (2.0) and tackles for loss (5.0) this season. He has recorded multiple tackles for loss in each of Clemson’s last two games.

Offensively, wide receiver Bryant Wesco Jr. has reached 100 receiving yards in each of the last two weeks, becoming the first Clemson player to cross the century mark in receiving in back-to-back games since Cornell Powell in 2020. Wesco is tied for second nationally this season with two 100-yard receiving games, and his 310 receiving yards are four yards off the conference lead held by SMU’s Romello Brinson.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR THIS WEEK

– Clemson attempting to improve to 39-10 in games following a loss under Dabo Swinney, including season openers following a loss in the previous season finale.

– Clemson entering this week as one of two teams in the country to have already faced two teams ranked in the top 20 of this week’s AP Poll (No. 3 LSU and No. 18 Georgia Tech). The other is 0-2 Notre Dame (No. 4 Miami and No. 10 Texas A&M).

– Clemson attempting to improve to 11-2 all-time against Syracuse.

– Clemson attempting to improve to 6-0 all-time against Syracuse in games played at Death Valley. Syracuse would become the fourth opponent against
which Clemson has an undefeated home record of 6-0 or better (9-0 vs. Wofford, 6-0 vs. Appalachian State and 6-0 vs. Newberry).

– Clemson attempting to win a seventh straight game against Syracuse to add to the longest streak by either team in series history.

– Clemson attempting to make Syracuse the seventh different opponent against which Clemson would have an active winning streak of seven or more games.

A HISTORY OF RESPONDING

In Head Coach Dabo Swinney’s tenure, the Tigers have
typically responded well in the face of adversity.

Clemson is 38-10 in games following a loss under Swinney, including season openers following a loss in the previous season finale.

CLEMSON PRIOR TO OPEN DATES

Saturday’s game will precede the first of Clemson’s two regular-season open dates in 2025. The 2025 season marks Clemson’s sixth year with multiple open dates since 2013, joining the 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 and 2024 seasons.

Since joining the ACC as a charter member in 1953, Clemson is 43-21-2 in games preceding regular season open dates. Clemson is 16-6 before regular season open dates under Dabo Swinney, including a 16-2 mark in those games since 2012

TCI Predictions 

Robert – Clemson 35, Syracuse 21

Will – Syracuse 27, Clemson 24

JP – Clemson 24, Syracuse 16