Keys to Victory: Clemson vs. Charleston Southern

The Match-Up:

Clemson (3-2, 2-1 ACC) vs. Charleston Southern (3-3, 0-2 OVC)

After an open date, Clemson returns to Death Valley looking to get back on track following a 41-13 loss to No. 4 Miami. The Tigers welcome an in-state opponent that just upset South Carolina State, making Saturday a chance to regain offensive confidence without overlooking a team coming off its biggest win of the season.

Kickoff:

• Saturday, Oct. 17, Noon ET
• TV: ACC Network (Roxy Bernstein, Dave Clawson, Madison Hock)
• Radio: Clemson Athletic Network (Don Munson, Jeff Scott, Tim Bourret)
• Satellite Radio: SiriusXM 110 or 248
• Venue: Memorial Stadium | Clemson, S.C.
• Military Appreciation Day — Wear Purple

Last Game: Clemson fell to No. 4 Miami 41-13 on Oct. 3, suffering its second lopsided loss of the season. Freshman quarterback Tait Reynolds threw for a career-high 295 yards, while Bryant Wesco Jr. caught nine passes for 152 yards. But the Tigers struggled to turn offensive production into points and entered the bye week searching for answers.

Series History:

Clemson leads the series 1-0 after defeating Charleston Southern 66-17 in 2023. The Tigers are 40-0 against FCS opponents since the NCAA split Division I in 1978.

Clemson also enters Saturday seeking its 62nd consecutive home victory against an in-state opponent other than South Carolina. The last such loss came against Presbyterian in 1943.

William Qualkinbush's Perspective:

During his appearance on Clemson Sports Talk, William Qualkinbush discussed how quickly the college football landscape can change and why turning around an established program isn't always as simple as making a coaching change or spending more money.

With Clemson at 3-2 after entering the season hoping to return to championship-level play, the conversation focused on programs trying to maintain a high standard while others find success with new coaches and different approaches.

“I think it's easier if you haven't spent money and now you're gonna spend new dollars because nobody that's currently in your program expects anything. You could be more selective about who you keep around and you can make more wholesale changes.”

Qualkinbush pointed to the challenges facing programs like LSU and Penn State, where established expectations and existing roster investments can complicate significant changes.

For Clemson, the challenge is returning to its standard without losing sight of what has made the program successful. Saturday's matchup with Charleston Southern won't answer every question, but it's another opportunity to show progress.

Swanny's Rant & Reality Check:

Let's not overcomplicate this.

Clemson is 3-2. That's probably where most people expected this team to be, but a victory over Charleston Southern isn't going to erase what happened against LSU or Miami. Those were lopsided losses and that’s what stands out the most. 

That said, it doesn't mean Saturday can't be important.

I'm not looking for Clemson to prove it can beat an FCS opponent. I'm looking for signs that this offense is actually getting better. I want to see Reynolds play confidently, the offensive line create opportunities, and the Tigers put touchdowns on the board instead of leaving points on the field.

And don't forget what happened the last time Charleston Southern came to town. The Buccaneers led Clemson 10-7 in the first quarter in 2023 before the Tigers eventually took control.

Charleston Southern will need turnovers and special teams to threaten the Tigers, and Clemson cannot allow that.

This should be a comfortable afternoon in Death Valley.

More importantly, for the coaching staff and fans, it needs to be a productive afternoon.

Keys to Victory:

1. Don't Give Charleston Southern Extra Possessions: The Buccaneers' 49-39 victory over South Carolina State was fueled by four takeaways and two special-teams touchdowns. South Carolina State actually outgained Charleston Southern 470-305, but that didn't matter when the Buccaneers kept creating opportunities outside their offense. Protect the football, handle the kicking game, and make the Buccaneers drive the length of the field.

2. Establish the Run and Finish Drives: Charleston Southern is allowing 127 rushing yards per game, and Clemson should have an advantage up front.

Gideon Davidson enters Saturday attempting to score a rushing touchdown in his fourth consecutive game, something no Clemson player has done since Will Shipley in 2022. This isn't just about Davidson; Clemson needs its offensive line to create running lanes, give Reynolds a clean pocket, and turn sustained drives into touchdowns. 

The Tigers moved the football at times against Miami, but 13 points won't win many games against quality competition. This is an opportunity to get the offense moving in the right direction.

3. Make Charleston Southern One-Dimensional: The Buccaneers are averaging just 280.8 yards of offense per game, including 144.5 passing yards. Quarterback Jared Echols gave the offense a spark in his first start last week, throwing for 194 yards and three touchdowns against South Carolina State. Running back Hakeem Watters has 369 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns this season.

Clemson needs to shut down the run, force Echols into obvious passing situations and let its defensive front take over. The Buccaneers have converted only about 30 percent of their third downs this season. Clemson should be able to exploit that advantage.

Prediction:

This is the kind of game most coaches would love to have in Week 1.

A chance to knock off the rust, evaluate your roster, work through some mistakes, and figure out what you've got before the schedule gets serious.

Of course, Clemson doesn't typically do things that way. The Tigers opened this season at LSU, and Dabo Swinney has made a habit of scheduling heavyweight opponents early in the year. There's something to be said for testing yourself against the best, but there's also value in having an opportunity to grow into a season.

That's what Saturday needs to be for Clemson.

At 3-2, the Tigers aren't where they wanted to be, and a comfortable victory over Charleston Southern won't change that. But with the bulk of the ACC schedule still ahead, this is an opportunity to build some confidence and clean up the problems that have plagued this team.

For me, it starts with the offensive line.

I've been disappointed with the inconsistent play up front all season. That's an area where I expected Clemson to be significantly better under Matt Luke, and I think it's fair to say he's facing increased scrutiny because of it. The Tigers should control the line of scrimmage against Charleston Southern. Anything less would raise even more questions about where this offense is headed.

I expect Clemson to win comfortably, but I'm looking for more than a lopsided score. I want to see an offensive line that imposes its will, a dependable running game, and an offense that plays with the confidence we'll need when ACC competition resumes.

Saturday should be a tune-up.

Let's hope Clemson looks like a team that's finally getting tuned up.

The Pick: Clemson 41, Charleston Southern 10

Season Record: 5-0

Season Prediction Record: 5-0