CLEMSON — Though Clemson is not playing a big rival or has a huge conference foe coming to town, Saturday’s game against Charleston Southern will be big for different reasons.

Why?

Because Saturday’s game will be Clemson’s annual Military Appreciation Game, a day Clemson values very much.

“Hopefully, it’ll be a beautiful day and people will be able to come and really enjoy a great day and a great weekend here at Clemson, especially being a part of something that I don’t really have anything to quantify it, but I can’t imagine anybody does military appreciation better than Clemson University,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said. “I just can’t. I mean it is amazing to be a part of it.”

A former military school, more than 10,000 Clemson men and women have served in the military since Clemson opened its doors in 1893.

Saturday’s game will be Clemson’s 33rd Military Appreciation Day. The history of the special day dates back to 1994 when Clemson had a special flyover for the Clemson vs. Georgia Tech game on Nov. 12, just one day after Veterans Day.

The flyover of four F-16s from Shaw Air Force Base during pregame was the highlight of the celebration that day.

“The history of this place and what it was founded upon and all the people who serve or have served this country that have come through this university,” Swinney said. “I mean, we’re in Memorial Stadium and there is a scroll of honor across the street from the hill. It’s amazing history that we have from a military standpoint.”

Clemson typically celebrates its military history during games held in November or when it plays host to a school with its own military heritage. The Tigers don purple uniforms for the Military Appreciation Day game in reverence to the Purple Heart, the oldest United States military decoration.

Wearing the all-purple uniforms is a tradition that began in 2012 when former Clemson wide receiver and walk-on Daniel Rodriguez was on the team. Rodriguez is a decorated war hero who served approximately 18 months in Iraq and one year in Afghanistan.

He was involved in the Battle of Kamdesh in Afghanistan on Oct. 3, 2009, when 300 Taliban insurgents battled with 38 U.S. troops — eight Americans lost their lives and 22 were injured, including Rodriguez, in one of the most violent battles in the war. He earned a Purple Heart and the Bronze Star Medal With Valor Device for his heroism at Kamdesh.

Clemson has a 28-4 record in the previous 32 Military Appreciation Day games. The Tigers have won 18 such games in a row, with the last loss coming against Virginia Tech in 2007.

Charleston Southern (3-3) at Clemson (3-2)

• Kickoff: Saturday, Noon
• Location: Memorial Stadium, Clemson, S.C.
• TV: ACCN
• Spread: Clemson minus-42.5
• Total: 57.5 points
• Series: Clemson leads 1-0
• First Meeting: Clemson won the first meeting 66-17 in 2023

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

Clemson comes into Saturday’s game with a 40-0 all-time record against FCS (formerly Division I-AA) opponents since the NCAA split Division I Football in 1978.

KEY MATCHUP

Charleston Southern’s defense has been decent against the run this year. The Buccaneers are allowing 127.0 yards per game on the ground and just 3.2 yards per carry. Linebacker Steve Zayachkowsky leads the team with 58 tackles in six games, including a season-best 17 in last week’s win over S.C. State. They limited the Bulldogs to 102 yards and 2.6 yards per carry. Clemson wants to come out and establish the running game with Gideon Davidson, hoping its new offensive line is up for the challenge. The Tigers welcome back Elyjah Thurmon at left guard after missing the last two weeks with a knee injury, while Easton Ware will get his first start at right guard. Davidson is averaging 5.6 yards per carry.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Jared Echols made his first career start in the Bucs win over S.C. State last week. The quarterback completed 17 of 29 passes for 194 yards and three touchdowns in the victory. Echols passing lit a spark in CSU’s offense, as they scored 49 points. For the year, Echols has played in four games, completing 26 of 48 passes for 315 yards, three TDs and one interception.

This will be a good week to let Tait Reynolds go and rip the ball for the Tigers. He showed promise despite all the sacks and pressures against Miami, as he threw for 295 yards on 29 of 44 passes. This is also a good week to test what he can do in the running game. Swinney says his freshman quarterback has not run at full speed, yet. Look for Reynolds to have a few more designed runs in the offense, as offensive coordinator Chad Morris attempts to build his young quarterback’s confidence.

THIS AND THAT

Clemson has won 61 consecutive home games against Palmetto State opponents outside of its rivalry game with South Carolina. Clemson’s most recent home loss to a Palmetto State team other than the Gamecocks came in a 13-12 loss to Presbyterian in 1943, Clemson’s second year in Memorial Stadium.

FINAL ANALYSIS

Clemson is without a doubt the better team, but Charleston Southern has a couple of good players to make things interesting if the Tigers come into the game and take them likely. I am not sure this Clemson offense is ready to put up 50-plus points on anyone, but I can see them having some success in the ground game, which will open the passing windows downfield. Opportunities will be there for the Tigers to score more points. The question is can they do it.

Prediction

Clemson 42, Charleston Southern 10