Clemson faces No. 4 Miami tonight at Memorial Stadium in a huge ACC showdown, and ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit views it as a prime opportunity for Dabo Swinney’s squad to have a “do-over” after a disappointing start to the season.
After getting blown out by LSU in Week 1, Clemson was the subject of heavy criticism, with Swinney and his team getting written off by many analysts. The Tigers have proceeded to turn things around since then, however, bouncing back by winning three straight games and putting their season back on a positive trajectory.
Herbstreit highlighted the primetime game vs. Clemson (3-1, 2-0 ACC) and Miami (4-0, 2-0) as the “biggest game in the ACC so far.”
Herbstreit also believes it gives the Tigers another national stage – this time, at home — to erase the memory of that primetime 51-10 loss on the road at LSU.
He compared the situation to then-No. 20 Oregon’s bounce-win over then-No. 12 Southern Cal last week, after the Ducks suffered a major upset loss at Oklahoma State back in Week 2.
“I think last week we had a chance to see a team get a do-over. That was Oregon. They went to the LA Coliseum and took advantage. All of a sudden we all have different perceptions of Oregon,” Herbstreit said.
“To me, that team is Clemson this week. The way they played against LSU — they’ve kind of fixed some things, kind of on the backburner. Now they go back to that huge stage, hosting – not on the road, but hosting the Miami Hurricanes. Kind of a mulligan for Dabo and that team. We’ll see if they can take advantage of it.”
Kickoff at Death Valley is set for 7:30 p.m. on ABC. Herbstreit will be on the call as the game analyst, alongside play-by-play man Chris Fowler and sideline reporter Holly Rowe.
Herbstreit senses that Swinney’s squad, which is a 15.5-point underdog at home, has a “chip on their shoulder” heading into the showdown against the high-powered Hurricanes.
“Talking to Clemson this week, I think they’re confident that they can try to match up athletically,” Herbstreit added. “I think they have a bit of a chip on their shoulder. We’ll see if it’s enough.”