What to know about Clemson before SU’s ACC opener in Death Valley
Ahead of Syracuse's ACC season opener against Clemson, our beat writer has everything to know about the Tigers. Lars Jendruschuwitz | Senior Staff Photographer
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Three weeks ago, Syracuse’s road trip to Death Valley looked much more daunting. Clemson started the season as the No. 4 team in the country. Three games later, the Tigers are in free fall. After close losses to No. 3 LSU and No. 18 Georgia Tech, Clemson is unranked for the first time since 2023.
Still, SU’s first true road game of the season remains an intimidating task. Fran Brown said this week the Tigers are a “couple plays away” from being 3-0, while praising Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney’s program.
The Orange have never won a game at Memorial Stadium, while Clemson has lost just three games at home in the Atlantic Coast Conference since 2014. They came close in 2018 and 2022 but never got over the hump.
Syracuse hasn’t looked very convincing across its first three games. It was blown out by then-No. 24 Tennessee before coming back against UConn. SU cruised past Colgate last week in its final tune-up game before starting conference play.
Here’s everything to know before Syracuse (2-1, 0-0 ACC) takes on Clemson (1-2, 0-1 ACC) on Saturday:
All-time series
Clemson leads 10-2.
Last time they played
For the second-straight season, Syracuse was undefeated heading into its matchup with Clemson. The previous year, SU was 6-0 before losing a close game on the road. This time, the 4-0 Orange got a chance to continue their hot start. However, the Tigers spoiled it and dominated with a 31-14 win.
Clemson jumped out to a 14-0 lead within the first 10 minutes via touchdowns from Cade Klubnik and Will Shipley. Dan Villari made it a one-score game soon after, but the Orange went scoreless until the fourth quarter. LeQuint Allen Jr. cut SU’s deficit to 24-14 with 12 minutes remaining, but Phil Mafah closed the game with Clemson’s lone touchdown in the second half. Klubnik finished with 263 passing yards and two touchdowns, while Garrett Shrader recorded 176.
The Tigers Report
Clemson ended its four-year College Football Playoff drought last season. The Tigers did so with the help of the Orange after they took down then-No. 8 Miami in the regular-season finale. SU’s win clinched an ACC Championship Game berth for Clemson, where it defeated SMU. But Texas took care of business against the Tigers in the first round of the playoffs.
This season, Clemson is led by its ferocious defensive front. Brown called its front seven “one of the best in the country.” T.J. Parker and Peter Woods helm the group, both of whom are top-five prospects for the 2026 NFL Draft, per ESPN. Though Parker only has one sack so far this season, he finished with 11 in 2024, the third-best mark in the ACC. Woods is a game-wrecking defensive tackle that can also use his speed to rush from the edge.
The Tigers’ defense has done its job so far, only allowing 19 points per game, though Klubnik has struggled. The senior came into the season as a Heisman Trophy hopeful with some making the argument he could be the No. 1 pick in April. Instead, he’s thrown an interception each game and hasn’t totalled more than 230 passing yards. Clemson offensive coordinator Garrett Riley has kept its offense balanced with 88 passes and 86 rushes. It’ll be interesting to see if that trend continues against SU.
How Syracuse beats Clemson
Syracuse offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon needs to design plays to get the ball out of Steve Angeli’s hands quickly. The Orange must keep Angeli upright, which will be difficult considering their below-average offensive line and Clemson’s stout defensive line. The Notre Dame transfer currently leads the country with 1,072 passing yards, yet 798 were against Colgate and UConn, two subpar opponents.
Angeli has a tall task ahead of him since this is his first-ever true road start in his career. About 80,000 Clemson fans will make it tough for Syracuse’s offense to operate smoothly.
The Orange will also have to find some way to get to Klubnik. They’ve only recorded three sacks this season and have failed to pressure quarterbacks much. Despite his shortcomings this season, if Syracuse can’t get to Klubnik, he’ll pick it apart.
Stat to know: 12
Syracuse’s special teams were a mess last season. So far, the Orange have cleaned up that phase, highlighted by Tripp Woody’s perfect 12-for-12 effort on extra points. Woody’s only kicked four field goals — missing one 48-yard attempt versus UConn — but his consistency is a welcome sign for the Orange.
Woody doesn’t do kickoffs, with Jadyn Oh assuming those responsibilities. Oh’s had a strong year in that department, creating 10 touchbacks against Colgate, which, per Brown, earned him special teams player of the week.
Player to watch: Adam Randall, running back, No. 8
During his first three seasons, Adam Randall was stuck deep on Clemson’s depth chart as a receiver. He totaled 533 receiving yards before Swinney decided to switch him to running back in the offseason. Randall has become a dynamic playmaker for Clemson’s offense. After only five rushes for 16 yards in the Tigers’ loss to LSU, the running back has totalled 192 yards in their past two contests.
At 6-foot-2, 230 pounds, Randall can be a physical back, while also having the breakaway speed and elusiveness to be a big-time playmaker. With Syracuse’s tackling issues, it’ll need to bring Randall down on first contact or it might be a long day.
