Fresh off its most dominant win of the season over North Carolina last weekend, Clemson now heads north to take on the ACC’s worst, the Boston College Eagles.
The Tigers, 2-3 overall and 1-2 in the ACC, believe last weekend’s performance in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, marked a turning point in an otherwise disappointing season. Still, head coach Dabo Swinney is making sure his team doesn’t overlook what they’re calling “a big trap game.”
“It’s just a tough-minded, physical group every year,” Swinney said. “As long as I’ve gone against Boston College, there’s just certain things. It doesn’t matter who the coach is.”
Clemson enters the matchup as a double-digit favorite, riding the momentum of its most complete performance yet.
Garrett Riley’s offense finally clicked, scoring a season-high 38 points as Cade Klubnik delivered a near-flawless outing against UNC — completing 22 of 24 passes for 254 yards and four touchdowns, all without playing a snap in the fourth quarter.
With Boston College’s injury-decimated defense allowing 31.6 points per game, Clemson has another opportunity to showcase its offense.
Now, the Tigers are aiming to prove that North Carolina wasn’t a fluke game.
Boston College, 1-4 overall and 0-3 in the ACC, meanwhile, is reeling. The Eagles are coming off a 48-7 massacre by Pittsburgh, a game in which they were actually favored.
Quarterback Dylan Lonergan, who showed promise early in the season, struggled mightily against Pitt, completing just 50% of his passes for 89 yards before he was benched and backup Grayson James took his place.
The Eagles’ offense managed only 27 rushing yards and one touchdown last weekend, a vulnerability Clemson’s defense will look to exploit.
While the Tigers have won 12 straight games against Boston College dating back to 2010, the Eagles are notorious for gritty, down-to-the-wire battles during the Swinney era.
That history, combined with Clemson’s desperate need to stay sharp and maintain bowl eligibility, sets the stage for a potentially tricky night in Chestnut Hill.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on the ACC Network.
