Kickoff: Saturday, September 20 | 12:00 PM ET on ESPN | Memorial Stadium, Clemson, SC
The Clemson Tigers return home to Memorial Stadium looking to bounce back from a crushing 24-21 walk-off loss at Georgia Tech. Sitting at 1-2 overall and 0-1 in ACC play, Dabo Swinney’s team faces early adversity that feels uncomfortably familiar for Tiger fans who watched similar slow starts in 2021 and 2023.
Tomorrow’s opponent, the Syracuse Orange, may not have Clemson’s brand recognition, but they’re a team gaining confidence under second-year head coach Fran Brown. Syracuse is 2-1 on the year after dropping 66 points on Colgate last weekend. If history is any indicator, this matchup has the potential to be another close, physical battle, the kind of game that often comes down to a few critical plays in the fourth quarter.
Clemson Searching for Fast Start
If there’s one theme that has defined Clemson’s season so far, it’s slow starts. Through three games, the Tigers have scored only three points in the first quarter combined with two fumbles, a missed field goal, and five punts. Last weekend was more of the same, as Clemson fell behind 13-0 in the first half before finally finding the end zone on a Cade Klubnik quarterback sneak just before halftime.
Klubnik’s afternoon was a mixed bag, he finished with a highlight-reel 63-yard touchdown strike to Bryant Wesco Jr. but also threw a costly red-zone interception on the opening drive of the second half. Adam Randall has been the steadying force of the offense, scoring three touchdowns and sparking Clemson with his physical running style.
Defensively, Tom Allen’s group has held up well given the situations they’ve been put in. Ricardo Jones made one of the biggest plays of the game against Georgia Tech, stuffing a fourth-down attempt deep in Tiger territory. However, Clemson’s defensive line has yet to deliver a dominant performance. If there’s a week to change that narrative, it’s this one.
Orange Offense Runs Through Steve Angeli
The Orange have found their offensive identity thanks to Notre Dame transfer Steve Angeli, who has been among the ACC’s most productive quarterbacks. Through three games, he’s thrown for over 1,000 yards which leads the nation, and averaging nearly 380 yards per contest. His favorite target has been Darrell Gill Jr., who already has nearly 270 receiving yards this season.
On the ground, Syracuse has been inconsistent, averaging just over 100 rushing yards per game. Running back Yasin Willis is the primary ball carrier, but this team lives and dies by Angeli’s arm. That means Clemson’s pass rush could be the difference-maker if they come ready to play. If Clemson is able to collapse the pocket and force Angeli off schedule, the Orange offense could sputter.
Syracuse Defense: Opportunistic but Vulnerable
Fran Brown’s defense has had its share of ups and downs in 2025. They surrendered 45 points to Tennessee in the opener but have since tightened up, including an overtime win over UConn. The secondary is talented but aggressive, which means Clemson’s receivers will have chances for big plays if Cade Klubnik has time to throw.
The Orange defense has yet to play in a road atmosphere as intense as Death Valley, and handling that environment will be one of their biggest challenges.
Key Matchups
Clemson’s Pass Rush vs. Syracuse Offensive Line: Angeli isn’t known for mobility, so this could be the week Clemson’s defensive front takes over a game.
Clemson’s WR Core vs. Syracuse Secondary: The Tigers need explosive plays early to set the tone and prevent another slow start.
First Quarter Execution: If Clemson starts fast, they can put Syracuse on their heels and avoid another late-game nail-biter.
What’s at Stake
This is a pivotal game for Clemson’s season. Falling to 1-3 would put the Tigers in a deep hole in the ACC standings and raise even more questions about whether this team has truly moved on from the struggles of 2021 and 2023. For Syracuse, this is a golden opportunity to pick up a signature win and make noise in the conference.
Recent history says this series rarely comes easy for the Tigers with several one-score games and even a Syracuse upset back in 2017, which was the last time the Orange beat the Tigers. Fans could expect another hard-fought battle in Death Valley that could be decided in the final minutes if Clemson doesn’t come to play once again.
