Keys to Victory: No. 25 Clemson vs. App State

Each week, we review the game’s history, three keys to success, and Swanny’s prediction.

The Match-Up:

No. 25/22 Clemson (0-1, 0-0 ACC) vs. App State (1-0, 0-0 Sun Belt)

Clemson has been right at home in non-conference contests at Memorial Stadium in recent years, going 29-1 in its last 30 non-conference home games. Clemson had won 26 straight until a one-point loss to South Carolina in November 2022. Previously, Clemson’s longest unbeaten streak (including ties) in non-conference home games was a 20-game unbeaten streak from 1978-84 that saw ties against Boston College and Georgia interrupt winning streaks of 12 games, four games and two games. Since joining the ACC as a charter member in 1953, Clemson is 131-33-4 at home against opponents from other conferences. That includes a 39-4 mark in nonconference games at Death Valley under Head Coach Dabo Swinney.

Clemson Offensive Coordinator Garrett Riley spent the 2019 season as Appalachian State’s running backs coach, helping the Mountaineers to a 13-1 record, a Sun Belt title and a New Orleans Bowl win. He helped Darrynton Evans to Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year honors as Evans totaled 1,740 all-purpose yards and 20 touchdowns under Riley before later becoming a third-round selection of the Tennessee Titans in the 2020 NFL Draft. Riley credits his time at Appalachian State for helping inform the run game philosophy of his offense that now carries the moniker “Dirt Raid.”

Series History:

• OVERALL: Clemson leads series, 5-0
• HOME: Clemson leads series, 5-0
• ROAD: N/A
• NEUTRAL: N/A
• LAST MEETING: Sept. 12, 2015 (41-10, W)
• STREAK: Clemson, Won 5

Roster:

Rosters will be released by Clemson two hours before kickoff.

Stat of the Week:

This Saturday's contest will be a matchup of two programs whose rushing offenses have consistently found the end zone in recent years. Clemson has scored a rushing touchdown in 78 of its 83 games since the start of the 2018 season. Clemson's 78 games with a rushing touchdown in that span are the most in the nation, just ahead of Appalachian State, which ranks tied for second in that category with 74 games with a rushing touchdown. Clemson has rushed for a touchdown in 53 consecutive home games, the nation's longest active streak and one that dates to 2016.

Chasing History:

Clemson is attempting to earn its 799th all-time win and pull within one victory of becoming the 14th FBS program (and first ACC program) ever to win 800 games.

The Tigers are also attempting to win their 21st consecutive home opener. A win would extend Clemson’s longest winning streak in home openers all-time, ahead of its 17 from 1944-60.

Memorable Moments: 

Saturday’s game between the Tigers and Mountaineers will be the sixth in series history, with all six games being played at Memorial Stadium.

Clemson ranked in the AP Top 25 in each of the first five meetings in series history dating to the programs’ first meeting in 1984. Five different players scored a touchdown for Clemson in that initial meeting, a 40-7 win by Danny Ford’s fourth-ranked Tigers.

Clemson earned back-to-back shutouts of App State in 1990 and 1991. Clemson outrushed the Mountaineers by a 664-33 margin over those two contests.

Appalachian State got back on the scoreboard in 1997, but two Nealon Greene touchdown passes and a 38-yard Raymond Priester touchdown run gave Clemson a 23-12 win in that contest.

Key 1: Get Younger

It might seem counterintuitive in this era to place an emphasis on being younger, but frankly, I’m tired of hearing about how Cole Turner is a “difference maker” and that Adam Randall has had a great offseason. I need to see the real playmakers—now. 

The Tigers don’t have the luxury at this point to put wideouts on the field who don’t improve Cade Klubnik’s chances of making big plays. Klubnik is a guy who can get in between his own ears in a blink, and getting zero production from the upperclassmen at wide receivers against the best team the Tigers will face all year is unacceptable. 

Some of it has to be on Klubnik, don’t misunderstand me, but it’s time to roll with the youngsters at wideout and see if Garrett Riley’s offense or a lack of playmakers is the real issue right now. If a lineup with Antonio Williams, Tyler Brown, Bryant Wesco, and TJ Moore can’t make plays downfield against App State, it’s going to be a long season for the Tiger offense.

Key 2: Disrupt Aguilar’s Timing

App State’s Joey Aguilar can flat-out spin the football. The kid threw for over 3,700 yards last season and was cooking in the season opener against East Tennessee State last weekend, going 22-36 for 326 yards and two touchdowns. 

On the second play from scrimmage, Aguilar tossed a beautiful pass to Christan Horn for an 83-yard score, opening the floodgates in Boone last weekend. Watching his touch on that throw, it became clear that the Tigers have to make Aguilar uncomfortable tonight. The Clemson defensive line needs to generate pressure early and often to make Aguilar get the ball out quickly. If that happens, the Tigers are a fast group, and I don’t think the Mountaineers can win dinking and dunking if the deep ball doesn’t have time to materialize. 

Key 3: Second to None

The Tigers’ secondary, especially the cornerbacks, are a young group. If Clemson’s defense can’t disrupt Aguilar, it’s going to come down to the secondary being able to play solid defense in coverage.

When you are facing a quarterback who is as accurate as Aguilar, even the slightest misstep can be magnified in a blink. It will be important that Aveion Terrell, Jeadyn Lukus, and, if available, Shelton Lewis are ready for the challenge downfield if App State’s offensive line can hold off Wes Goodwin’s pass-rushing schemes. 

Prediction:

I’m not one to believe that this Tiger team is so far off the mark that a matchup with App State will be one that’s competitive down the stretch. It’s my opinion that No. 1 Georgia is just a really good team, and the Tigers are still a Top 15 type program.

Sure, the Bulldogs dominated the second half in Atlanta, but watching the game, I felt that Klubnik has grown immensely since last season, and that’s enough for me. With a full-throated home crowd and an 8:00 PM kickoff looming, I think this one plays right into Clemson’s favor after their opening-season loss last weekend.

Clemson 38, App State 14

Swanny’s Predictions: 

✅ = Correct Prediction

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