With Clemson coming off an open date and Charleston Southern next up, the schedule basically set up the Tigers to have a couple of easy weeks here in the middle of the season.
With the way the first five games have played out, the middle of October was a good spot for a bit of a reset. Clemson comes in about where most expected the team would be at this point in the season, sitting at 3-2 overall and 2-1 in ACC play, with losses to LSU and Miami, the two most difficult opponents on the entire slate.
On one side, at least the Tigers looked like they belonged on the same field as the Hurricanes. They most certainly did not look like that in the season opener in Baton Rouge. So, there have been some signs of progress. Not as much as most would like, but some nonetheless.
With the open date in the rearview and the Buccaneers coming to town, the Tigers have certainly had some time to work out some of the issues that have plagued the team through the first five games, and with the step down in competition, all eyes will be on the offensive line. With Easton Ware sliding in at right guard this week, this will mark the fourth different starting five up front. That really isn’t the recipe for building any continuity.
It goes without saying, improvement will be expected against the FCS foe on Saturday. No matter who runs out there, this should be a game in which Clemson wins the battle at the line of scrimmage. That means the Tigers should not have a whole lot of trouble running the ball.
Expect Gideon Davidson, who is averaging 5.6 yards per carry, to get going early. The goal has to be to get him some early work while you are building a lead and then turn it over to the rest of the room. Chris Johnson Jr. and Jay Haynes are likely to get plenty of work. With Haynes expected back for the first time since the ACC Championship Game in 2024, this should serve as a perfect opportunity to knock off some rust. With David Eziomume out for the season and Jarvis Green out for this one, it will be interesting to see how the carries are distributed once a lead is built. You just know the staff would like to empty the bench.
This is also an opportunity for Tait Reynolds to take another step. The freshman took a big one in the loss to the Hurricanes, despite the loss, and you’d like to see that growth continue on Saturday. More consistency in the downfield passing game is one area that still needs improvement. Like Davidson, you’d think by some point in the third quarter, Reynolds is watching from the sidelines as the backups get some work.
Sophomore Jared Echols makes his second career start at quarterback for Charleston Southern. Lek Powell began the season as the starter but was benched ahead of last week’s win over SC State. Echols passed for 194 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions in the victory.
The Buccaneers come in averaging just 281 yards of offense per game, so this isn’t some high-powered attack coming to town. The Bucs are also converting just 31% on third down.
With a rather young and inexperienced quarterback making just his second career start in Death Valley, and with a not-so-potent rushing attack to back him up, Tom Allen’s defense should hold serve here.
There is a reason Clemson comes in favored by more than 40 points. The question isn’t whether the Tigers win — it’s by how many and how many players get to play.
It should be another fun Military Appreciation Day in Death Valley as Clemson moves to 42-0 all-time against FCS competition since the NCAA split Division 1 in 1978.
Clemson 48, Charleston Southern 7
