By: Griffin Jones
Clemson(3-1) hosts #4 ranked Miami(4-0) this Saturday at 7:30. The Tigers who are 2-0 in conference are facing their first true challenge in the ACC after defeating California and UNC in the most recent 2 weeks. Clemson, who got demolished by LSU in week 1 has since bounced back and looked much improved. While the offense is still shaky and uncertain, the defense has been lights out, not allowing a single touchdown in their last 20 drives. Led by star CB Ashton Hampton, the Tigers have one of the best cornerback rooms in the country. This along with impact players in Will Heldt(DE) and Sammy Brown(LB) the front 7 also does not disappoint. With Tait Reynold slowly gaining confidence with his two star receivers and the run game starting to reveal itself with sophomore Gideon Davidson, the offense could show some sparks.
While Clemson has looked improved, they are not the biggest part of this game. The question is, how will Miami perform in front of a packed crowd of 80,000 Clemson fans that are ready to once again hold the throne of the ACC. To rival Clemson’s great defense, Miami has arguably the best offense in the country. With 2 Heisman front runners in Darein Mensah(QB) and Malachi Toney(WR) leading the group. Along with a top 5 running back in the country with Mark Fletcher and one of the best WR 2s in the nation with Cooper Barkate.
This is a program defining game for both teams, if Miami wins Clemson has officially passed the torch to them. If Clemson wins, Dabo buys himself a lot more time, they are ranked pretty well and the CFP dreams are at their highest point. If Clemson wins this game, they will save the program.
Now to the matchup, Saturday at 7:30 on ABC, this could possibly be one of the loudest Clemson crowds in years. In no way am I saying Clemson is going to 100% win this game. I’m just saying, lookout for the tigers to give Miami some problems early. The writing is on the wall, high ranked Miami with 2 Heisman candidates comes into death valley without facing any real challenges yet met with a fired up crowd, team, and program. The last time Clemson hosted a top 4 team in the country was 2023 when they welcomed #4 FSU at noon kickoff and lost in OT. However the last time they hosted a team of this caliber in these weather conditions, it was the famous “Bring your own guts game” versus Notre Dame. Will history repeat itself? I guess we’ll have to see.
