CLEMSON — When Clemson lost to LSU to open the 2025 season, I wrote I will not call Memorial Stadium “Death Valley” until they return the favor next year and beat the Bayou Bengals in Baton Rouge, La.

So far, I have stayed true to my statement. But little did I know Clemson was going to eliminate it too.

Though the Tigers still call Memorial Stadium “Death Valley” they are playing like it is a “Welcome Valley,” as they have lost four consecutive games to Power 4 opponents at home. It is the longest such streak by Clemson since the 1994 and 1995 teams did the same.

The Tigers (3-3, 2-2 ACC) are hoping to avoid a fifth straight loss for the first time since 1970 and 1971 seasons when SMU rolls into town on Saturday (3:30 p.m., ACCN) in a rematch of last year’s ACC Championship Game.

“I know the fans are disappointed that we have not been playing well at home,” wide receiver Bryant Wesco said. “They come to the games and spend a lot of money, so we need to pay them back and make sure we start winning at home like we used to do a few years ago.”

Clemson is currently 1-2 at home this season and is trying to avoid a third home loss for the first time since the 2001 season.

“We got to play for one another,” defensive end Jahiem Lawson said. “I feel like we will definitely get that done for sure, but I feel like we have to come to practice every single day and get the plan down, so we can be able to go out there on Saturday and be successful.”

From October 19, 2013, to November 26, 2022, Clemson went 59-1 at home. It truly was Death Valley, as opponents feared to play the Tigers at Memorial Stadium.

The Tigers’ 40-game home winning streak from November 26, 2016, to November 26, 2022, is still the longest home winning streak in college football in the last 30 years. However, Clemson is just 12-6 in its last 18 home games.

“It is not any extra juice, it just a little fuel to the fire,” linebacker Sammy Brown said. “It is a big game, but at the same time it is our next game, so you do not want to make the game too much or more than it actually is, but it can add a little fuel to the fire.”

For Clemson, it just wants to play better at home and make “Death Valley,” once again, a place opponents fear to play in.

“That was a big goal of mine when I got this job because we weren’t a great home-winning team. We were good, but not great,” Swinney said. “And in my 17 years, we have been great. Not good, great. As of late, we’ve stunk, and we’ve got to get that turned around.”

“We’ve got to get back on track. That’s been a big disappointment to this point. Hopefully, we can start a new streak.”

It will be better than the current streak they have.