Keys to the Game: No. 1 Clemson vs. The Citadel

Each week we give you a look at the history of the game, three keys to success, plus our staff predictions.

The Match Up:

No. 1 Clemson (1-0, 1-0) vs. The Citadel (0-1)

Clemson vs. the Citadel 2017 Highlights

Series History

All-Time Series: Clemson leads 32-5-1

at Clemson: Clemson leads 14-1

at The Citadel: Clemson leads 13-1

Neutral: Clemson leads 5-3-1

Last Meeting: Clemson won 61-3 (Nov. 18, 2017)

Last Bulldog win: The Citadel won 6-0 (Oct. 16, 1931)

Streak: Clemson has won 17 consecutive games against The Citadel.

Stat of the Week:

Clemson enters its 2020 home opener riding a school-record 22-game home winning streak, the nation’s longest active streak. Clemson’s home crowds have seldom left disappointed in the College Football Playoff era, as the Tigers are an FBS-best 41-1 at home since 2014.

© Adam Hagy-USA TODAY Sports

Clemson's home crowds have seldom left disappointed in the College Football Playoff era, as the Tigers are an FBS-best 41-1 at home since 2014.

Key 1: Don’t Sleepwalk

It might be easy to assume that Clemson could sleepwalk through their home opener in front of just 19,000 Tiger faithful.

However, after last week’s game at Wake Forest, where virtually no fans were at the contest, head coach Dabo Swinney and several players have pointed out that this will feel like a raucous 100,000 person crowd. From that standpoint, don’t expect Clemson to come out flat.

In addition, Dabo Swinney has reminded his team all week that the Citadel Bulldogs knocked off Georgia Tech last year and South Carolina in 2015, and also in 2018, they tied Alabama at the half in Tuscaloosa. 

“They can embarrass you quickly if you don’t play with the type of discipline that it takes every single play for four quarters,” Swinney said earlier this week. “They keep attacking.”

Swinney, a master-motivator, has said the right things, and Clemson should be ready. It’s probably safe to assume that he didn’t tell the No. 1 ranked Tigers that Alabama scored 40 points in the second half of their matchup and eventually ran away from the Bulldogs 50-17 that afternoon.

Key 2: Stay Healthy

During the COVID-19 era of college football, I don’t think you can understate how important it is to be healthy. As we learned last weekend, teams find out who they actually have available almost right before kickoff. 

While we certainly believe that Clemson will have the majority of their roster available today until the results are in from testing that took place on Friday, we honestly don’t know who will be available at any position.

Clemson’s clearly the better team, and they have lapped the field in most of their contests recently. The Tigers are expected to smoke the FCS Bulldogs on Saturday as well.

It’s easy to understand why the team’s health is paramount throughout this season, as there really is so much uncertainty about who will be available, each and every week. 

Clemson’s goal this week, as it should be throughout the year, will be to escape this game as healthy as possible, because COVID-19 is a moving target that you truly cannot control.

Key 3: ETN for Heisman

Last weekend at Wake Forest, Travis Etienne’s numbers weren’t superb as the senior running back picked up just 107 yards on 17 carries with a touchdown, setting a new Clemson mark with his 18th career 100+ yard game. Based on what Clemson tried to do with Etienne at the goal line, I got the feeling that Tony Elliott and the coaching staff are interested in trying to work both he and Trevor Lawrence into the Heisman Trophy conversation.

While Etienne was stifled a few times last weekend, don’t expect the same today. 

Even though Clemson isn’t a team that’s built around individualized awards, you can’t help but think that given the circumstances surrounding the 2020 campaign, in the back of their minds, the duo doesn’t see the opportunity to land the most significant individual award in college football.

While John Heisman coached at Clemson, no player in Tiger Town has ever hoisted the trophy. 

While last week’s performance was a breakout start for Lawrence, throwing for 351 yards and a touchdown on 22-28 passing, I expect Clemson to try to shift things in Etienne’s direction this weekend.

I expect the Jennings, LA native to put up huge yardage before enjoying the rest of the game from the sidelines. If I had to guess, I’d go 120+ with three scores, but one could come after taking a reception out of the backfield to the house.

By the way, If Etienne gets in the endzone this week, he would tie Florida’s Tim Tebow (38 games from 2006-09) and Louisiana Tech’s Kenneth Dixon (38 from 2012-15) for the Football Bowl Subdivision record with career games with a touchdown scored.

Prediction:

The No. 1 ranked Tigers looked sharp last week at Wake Forest, and even though they never really throttled back the offense, things did slow down once Clemson got into their depth in Winston-Salem. In doing so, the Tigers continue to build and expand the experience on their roster. My belief is that this week Clemson will try to do much the same. 

Expect an early assault in the downfield passing game while mixing in some quick hits to rack up stats for Travis Etienne before putting the subs in the game.

The Citadel should be excited to play this ballgame, but I don’t think they’re going to like the results. Tigers by a wide margin.