GameDay Central: Clemson vs Georgia Southern

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Game Information

• Matchup: Clemson (0-1) vs. Georgia Southern (1-0)
• Kickoff: Saturday, Sept. 12, 7:30 p.m. ET
• Venue: Memorial Stadium | Clemson, S.C.
• TV: ACC Network (Wes Durham, Max Browne, Madison Fitzpatrick)
• Radio: Clemson Athletic Network (Don Munson, Tim Bourret, Jeff Scott)
• Satellite Radio: SiriusXM 177 or 235

Clemson: Roster | Depth Chart (Not Released) | Schedule | Twitter

Live Pulse

PREGAME: Clemson is back in Death Valley after a 51-10 loss at No. 11 LSU. What do you need to see from the Tigers tonight to feel better about where this team is headed?

Sound off below. 

Tonight's Big Question

How does Clemson respond?

The Tigers are trying to put last week's 51-10 loss at LSU in the rearview mirror, and there's a recent blueprint for doing exactly that. In 2024, Clemson opened with a 34-3 loss to No. 1 Georgia before hammering Appalachian State 66-20 the following week. That Clemson team went on to win 10 games, capture the ACC Championship and reach the College Football Playoff.

Tonight doesn't erase what happened in Baton Rouge, but a strong performance would be the first step toward changing the conversation.

Game Week Storylines

• Clemson Secondary Faces Familiar ACC Faces in Tonight's Matchup with GSU
• Clemson Will Play Two Quarterbacks — But What Does That Mean for the QB1 Job?
• Clemson Defensive Tackles Face Depth Concerns, One Player Could See Increased Role
• Gideon Davidson says Clemson can't let LSU loss 'linger' into Georgia Southern
• 100th Home-Opener Win: Clemson enters the night 99-18-8 all-time in home openers and is looking for victory No. 100.
• Stripe the Valley: Tonight marks Clemson's first-ever "Stripe the Valley" game, with fans in designated sections wearing orange or purple.
• Under the Lights: Clemson is 26-5 in home night games during Dabo Swinney's tenure, including a 22-2 prime-time home record in the College Football Playoff era.

Series Snapshot

• Series: Clemson leads 1-0
• Last Meeting: Clemson 38, Georgia Southern 7 — Sept. 15, 2018
• Current Streak: Clemson, 1
• At Memorial Stadium: Clemson leads 1-0

The only previous meeting came in 2018 when No. 2 Clemson rolled up 595 yards of offense in a 38-7 victory. Travis Etienne rushed for 162 yards and two touchdowns, while Trevor Lawrence threw for 194 yards and a score in reserve duty.

By the Numbers

• 36-3: Clemson's record in home openers since 1987.
• 26-5: Clemson's record in home night games under Dabo Swinney.
• 14-0: The record Clemson would reach all-time against Sun Belt opponents with a victory tonight. The Tigers enter the game 13-0 against the conference.
• 12: Clemson is attempting to win its 12th consecutive home game against an opponent from the state of Georgia. Its last such loss came against Georgia Tech in 2008, Swinney's first game as interim head coach.
• 41-13: The record Clemson would reach in games following a loss under Swinney with a victory tonight.
• 188: A win would give Swinney his 188th career victory, moving him past Joe Paterno and Urban Meyer for the fourth-most wins within the first 20 seasons of a head coaching career.

One More Thing to Watch

Christopher Vizzina and the Clemson offense.

Clemson managed only 145 total yards at LSU, including 40 rushing yards and 105 through the air. Vizzina finished 10-of-16 for 83 yards with an interception.

Against Georgia Southern, the Tigers should have an opportunity to establish the line of scrimmage, find some rhythm offensively and get a much better evaluation of where Vizzina and the rest of Chad Morris' offense stand after one week.

What would make tonight a successful performance in your eyes — simply getting the win, or do the Tigers need to look dominant?