The struggling Clemson Tigers will host the Boston College Eagles this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Clemson’s stunning 21-27 double overtime loss to NC State this past weekend has dropped them to No. 25 in the national AP Rankings, snapping their streak of 97 consecutive weeks in the top 10.
The Tigers are sitting on a record of 2-2 this year, while the Eagles have soared to an impressive 4-0 record with wins against Colgate, Massachusetts, Temple, and Missouri.
Clemson Head Coach Dabo Swinney spoke on Tuesday about Clemson’s early-season hardships. “It’s not complicated, it’s very simple actually,” said Swinney. “Simple things lead to big things. Until we get great at the details, we’re not going to get turned around.”
Boston College has not defeated their Atlantic Costal Conference (ACC) adversary Clemson since 2010, a 16-10 victory at Alumni Stadium in Massachusetts. It is safe to say that the Tigers have dominated this Boston College team in the past decade.
However, this weekend’s matchup showcases two teams trending in opposite directions, which will certainly spark a competitive game. For Clemson, this game is a chance to get back on track for the ACC championship, and for Boston College, a win here could catapult them into the AP top 25 rankings.
Swinney had high praise for the Eagles, saying “they’re honestly a lot like NC State, one of the more experienced teams out there.”
Swinney went on to highlight Boston College’s strong veteran presence on both sides of the ball.
Clemson’s key to this game is to slow down Boston College’s hot offense, namely running back Pat Garwo III. Garwo III had a monster game against Missouri, rushing for 175 yards and two touchdowns in their overtime victory. Stand out receiver Zay Flowers will also be a player to keep an eye on. He led the Eagles with eight receptions for 62 yards and a touchdown this past weekend.
Boston College’s defense will be looking to pressure Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagalelei. With up-and-coming Tiger running back Will Shipley expected to miss 3-4 weeks with a shin injury, the burden will fall on the shoulders of Uiagalelei.
Clemson will need to compensate for the loss of Shipley with a strong passing game, as well as a productive effort from running back Kobe Pace. DJ Uiagalelei was just 12-26 with two touchdowns and one interception at NC State, and all Tiger fans are hoping to see his numbers improve this coming weekend.
Clemson’s defense also gave up their first touchdowns of the season to NC State. Boston College will be another test for Clemson. The Eagles will come at Clemson with a solid offense, and a quarterback, Dennis Grosel, who holds the 13th ranked QB rating in the nation at 82.8.
