Keys to Victory: No. 9 Clemson vs. Virginia

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

The Match-Up:

No. 10/9 Clemson (5-1, 4-0 ACC) vs. Virginia (4-2, 2-1 ACC)

Clemson will await the return of one of its native sons today when the Tigers host Virginia Head Coach Tony Elliott and his 4-2 Cavaliers. Kickoff at Memorial Stadium in Clemson is scheduled for noon ET.

Elliott played wide receiver at Clemson from 1999-2003 and was a team captain of the 2003 squad for which Dabo Swinney served as Elliott’s position coach in Swinney’s first year at Clemson. Elliott later served 11 years as an assistant coach at Clemson from 2011-21, helping the Tigers to a 130-21 record in his tenure

Series History:

• OVERALL: Clemson leads series, 40-8-1
• HOME: Clemson leads series, 21-3-1
• ROAD: Clemson leads series, 18-5
• NEUTRAL: Clemson leads series, 1-0
• LAST MEETING: Oct. 3, 2020 (41-23, W)
• STREAK: Clemson, Won 5

Roster:

Rosters will be released by Clemson two hours before kickoff.

Stat of the Week:

Clemson is attempting to earn its 100th regular-season victory since the start of the 2015 season. In that span, Clemson is 99-13 in regular-season play.

Chasing History:

Clemson is attempting to start 5-0 in conference play for the eighth time under Dabo Swinney (2011, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2022). It would be Clemson's 16th such start since joining the ACC in 1953.

Clemson is facing Virginia Head Coach Tony Elliott — a Clemson graduate, former Clemson player, and former Clemson coach — for the first time. Elliott becomes the 15th head coach all-time to face Clemson after having previously coached at Clemson in either a head coaching or assistant coaching capacity.

Elliott becomes the fourth former Clemson player to face the Tigers as a head coach, joining Jules Carson (Wofford), Bobby Johnson (Furman) and Mike O’Cain (NC State).

Memorable Moments: 

Nov. 24, 1956 - The Tigers defeated Virginia, 7-0, at Clemson to clinch the Tigers’ first of their now conference-best 21 ACC championships. Following a low punt, Jim Coleman and Rudy Hayes combined for 40 yards in six plays before quarterback Charlie Bussey scored a short first-quarter touchdown run that would serve as the game’s only points.

Sept. 20, 1958 - Clemson ran down the hill on a rug for the first time prior to a season-opening 20-15 win against Virginia. The rug was officially given to Clemson by W.W. Pate Sr., president of Wunda Weave Company. It measured 104 feet long and was 13 feet wide. This game also represented the first use of Clemson’s first expansion of Memorial Stadium, moving the facility from 20,000 to 38,000 seats.

Oct. 8, 1960 - Clemson defeated Virginia, 21-7, and used special pants for rain protection in the game. After the contest, Clemson sent the pants to Greenville and allowed Furman to use the pants for a game that night against William & Mary. Furman Head Coach Bob King said, “after those big Clemson boys got out of them some of our guys had a hard time making them stay up and we had to tape the legs of the pants for several players.” The pants beat two teams from Virginia on the same day.

Sept. 24, 1966 - Clemson played Virginia in its first game in which Howard’s Rock was present at Death Valley. Clemson downed Virginia, 40-35, in one of the most exciting games in the history of the facility, adding to the legend of Howard’s Rock. Clemson trailed 35-17 with just over a quarter remaining in the game but rode the passing of Jimmy Addison to keep its perfect record alive against Virginia. Addison finished 12-of-19 for 283 yards and three touchdowns, including a 74-yarder to Jackie Jackson with 3:49 remaining that proved to be the game-winner.

Nov. 16, 1974 - The playing surface of Memorial Stadium was named Frank Howard Field prior to a 28-9 victory against UVA. The game featured the longest play in Clemson history, a 97-yard touchdown pass from Mark Fellers to Craig Brantley.

Oct. 11, 1980 - Obed Ariri kicked a 52-yard field goal with six seconds left to give Clemson a 27-24 victory at Virginia. Clemson had trailed by two touchdowns in the game, but Clemson earned a victory after Ariri booted the longest field goal to win a game in Clemson history.

Oct. 10, 1992 - Clemson overcame a 28-0 deficit to defeat Virginia in Charlottesville 29-28. Nelson Welch kicked a 32-yard field goal with 52 seconds left to cap the comeback. Quarterback Louis Solomon came off the bench with the score 28-0 and led the comeback. His 64- yard scoring run just before the half changed the course of the game. The win over the No. 10 Cavaliers was just the third in Clemson history over a top-10 team on the road.

Nov. 9, 1996 - The Tigers upset 15th-ranked Virginia, 24-16, in Charlottesville. Clemson had two players rush for over 120 yards in the contest as Kelton Dunnican had a career-high 123 yards and Raymond Priester had 122. It was the second time in four years that Clemson had defeated a ranked Virginia team on the road.

Sept. 11, 1999 - Tommy Bowden recorded his first win as Clemson head coach, a 33-14 victory over 19th-ranked Virginia. Quarterback Brandon Streeter threw for a school-record 343 yards and was named National Player of the Week by USA Today.

Nov. 2, 2013 - No. 8 Clemson defeated Virginia, 59- 10, in Charlottesville, as Tajh Boyd passed for 377 yards and Sammy Watkins had eight receptions for 169 yards. That included a 96-yard receiving touchdown in the second half, one yard shy of the longest passing play in school history, a record that had been set against Virginia in 1974.

Key 1: Strike Fast

Clemson’s offense in Death Valley has been explosive this season. The Tigers have jumped out to 35, 28, and 10-point leads against App State, NC State, and Stanford at home. Outside of the second half against Georgia, the Tigers have had control of each game without much resistance. The first half against the Dawgs was a virtual draw, but this unit seems more confident today than the one that entered Mercedes-Benz Stadium in late August. 

Last weekend, there was a slight wake-up call in the first quarter at Winston-Salem against Wake Forest. Then Garrett Riley’s offense took off in the second quarter, racking up a quick 28 points—reinvigorating the pace we’ve seen throughout the year. 

I expect the Tigers to test the Virginia secondary early. If the Clemson wideouts continue their consistent play downfield, the offense should continue at a torrid clip, opening up the ground game for Phil Mafah and Jay Haynes.

Key 2: Clean Football

Clemson’s Cade Klubnik has done a great job protecting the football. Last year, it was a bugaboo for the Tigers through the first eight games of the season—and to be honest—it was hard ever to feel too comfortable with the ball in his hands.

What a difference a year makes. 

Klubnik has 19 touchdowns passing with just two interceptions. In addition, he’s handled the ball much better, protecting possessions for the Tigers. As long as that trend continues today, it’s hard to imagine that Virginia will be in position to score enough points to top the Tigers.

Key 3: Tight Moves

It was great to see tight end Jake Briningstool last weekend looking like the weapon we desired ahead of kickoff against Wake Forest. I felt like it was imperative this late in the season that he started to become a bigger factor. 

We called for 75+ and two scores, and he delivered with seven receptions for 104 yards and a touchdown. He nearly had a second score and, in the process, improved his season stats to 24 grabs for 289 yards and four TDs. It’s not elite, but string together a few more games like that, and this offense takes another step forward with an additional weapon—and comfort zone for Klubnik.

Prediction:

Virginia has overachieved this season, and that’s a huge credit to Tony Elliott. I’ve got so much respect for him as a coach and a fellow Clemson graduate. As I said on the radio show yesterday, I certainly think the Tigers will control this game and likely have the talent to run up the score on the Wahoos if things go well early. 

Yet, in my opinion, once the Tigers get control, I expect Dabo Swinney to pull the reigns back. I just can’t imagine the guy who didn’t put a 50 spot on Nick Saban in the national championship in 2018 going full RUTS on Elliott’s team. The Tigers win comfortably, but the margin is reasonable. 

Clemson 42, Virginia 16

Swanny’s Record: 6-0

Swanny’s Predictions: 

✅ = Correct Prediction

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