Clemson Defense has lot on its Plate
By: Will Vandervort November 13, 2025

CLEMSON — One thing is for certain when Clemson visits Louisville Friday night in a game that has postseason implications for both squads.

The Tigers have to limit a Cardinals’ rushing attack that is averaging 5.05 yards per carry. If they cannot, it will make life extremely difficult for a linebacking corps and a group of safeties, who have been sucked in by play action and caught peaking in the backfield all season.

“It is a challenge,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said. “That is why you have to be able to minimize that because if they get comfortable in the running game and they can play on schedule and be in those third-and-threes-and-fours, you got a lot on your plate.”

That is when quarterback Miller Moss and his wide receivers become a huge problem. Though Moss struggled in last week’s loss to California, he has completed nearly 64 percent of his passes for 2,132 yards with 11 touchdowns this year.

Moss is averaging 7.0 yards per attempt.

“That is what they do,” Swinney said.

Louisville (7-2, 4-2 ACC) will be without star running back Isaac Brown, who leads the ACC with an average carry of 8.6 yards. However, it still has Keyjuan Brown, who has rushed for 457 yards and six touchdowns this season and is earning 6.9 yards per carry.

If Brown and the running game gets going, the Tigers (4-5, 3-4 ACC) are in trouble.

“We got to go execute,” Swinney said. “That starts at the point of attack, being disruptive, understanding what your problems are and how to attack them.”

Last week, the Clemson was very disruptive, as it tallied nine tackles for loss, including six sacks. They limited Florida State’s running game to a season-low 110 yards – 131 yards below their season average.

FSU leads the ACC in rushing yards per game. A repeat performance against the run, and the Tigers will be in great shape to redeem themselves against the Cardinals.

Clemson’s defense will try to keep the momentum going from the Florida State win, as they travel to the L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium in Louisville, Ky., to take on the Cardinals on Friday night.