11th ranked Clemson returns to work this Saturday night at Death Valley to commence a five-week November schedule the Tigers hope will spill over into a deep December run in the College Football Playoffs. The Tigers are 6-1 overall and 5-0 in the ACC, one of four teams unbeaten in ACC play at this point.
Louisville isn’t among the four, but Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said Tuesday the Cardinals are certainly good enough to play with anyone in the league. They are 5-3 overall and 2-2 in the ACC and coming off a come from behind win at Boston College Friday night. Their three losses were at Notre Dame, at SMU and against Miami, and each loss was by one touchdown.
Louisville QB Tyler Shough is in his seventh season and is fourth in the nation in passing touchdowns. He’s coming off a game in which he rallied the Cards from a 20-0 deficit by passing for 322 yards and two touchdowns. That was his fourth game of 300 passing yards or more this season.
Clemson is 8-0 all-time against Louisville and the Cardinals defense has never figured out the Clemson offense. The Tigers have averaged 39.4 points per game in the eight meetings, their highest all-time scoring average against an opponent currently in a power conference.
Thus far this season, Clemson has outscored conference opponents by 118 points with an average victory margin of 23.6 points. The Tigers are fourth in the country in scoring at 42 points per game and fifth in yards per game at 490.4.
The Tigers are eight-point favorites for the 7:30 PM kickoff on ESPN. They have won 22 straight home night games dating back to the 2013 season.
Key notes from Dabo Swinney:
- Louisville is a really good team, talented, three losses but all by a touchdown or less to teams combined record of 22-2, they can score points on anybody and put pressure on your offense to match them. best offense they’ve seen since Georgia.
- Louisville quarterback is a future pro, extension of their head coach, they want to throw the football, QB is factor with legs but he’s a very good passer and well coached, physical up front.
- Louisville defensive is very physical up front, some of the best defensive ends they’ve seen this season, very good with their hands, well coordinated group and not afraid to challenge you.
- Have to continue doing what they’ve been doing, protecting the football and making the explosive plays, have spent time working on what they do well and looking to improve on what they haven’t done as well.
- Louisville has every aspect to their offense, and they are well coordinated, work the run game off of their passing game, lot of boots and stretch plays, Shough the quarterback can hit the deep ball, excellent passer.
- Have to have some patience when it comes to developing quarterbacks, can’t listen to the outside noise, Klubnik a prime example of how patience pays off, UL QB Shough is in his 7th season and in his opinion is a pro.
- Tyler Brown is week to week, not yet day to day, he’s getting better, no longer needs any device to help him get around.
- Louisville will use the running backs a lot in the passing game, very impressed with the freshman running back Brown, he’s a complete back and you quickly notice him on tape.
- Would like to see college football go to a hard five-year eligibility rule and do away with redshirting for the purpose of preserving a season of eligibility.
- Biggest improvements in Klubnik are in his ball protection, decision making and using his legs, much better at managing the game.
- OG Walker Parks confirmed he plans to return next season for his final season of eligibility.