Clemson Football 2022 Schedule Breakdown: Vol. Three

OCT. 1 • VS. NC STATE • MEMORIAL STADIUM, CLEMSON, S.C.

After a tough double-overtime loss in Raleigh a season ago, Clemson awaits its much anticipated rematch with NC State in Death Valley on Oct. 1. Clemson has suffered only 36 losses under Dabo Swinney and has had 27 previous opportunities to avenge its most recent loss against an opponent, going 18-9 in those contests.

Outside of NC State, there are eight opponents against whom Swinney’s squads are awaiting a rematch since Clemson’s last loss in the series: Nebraska, TCU, USF, West Virginia, LSU, Ohio State, Georgia and Pitt. Swinney will attempt to move to 11-2 against NC State all-time.

To me, Dave Doeren isn’t very unlikable, but he has managed to make NC State into a worthy and capable team. In 2021, the Wolfpack, in double overtime, finally defeated Clemson, delivering Doeren his first signature win in his tenure at NC State.

Swinney and his Clemson Tigers rarely, if ever forget, anything. So it is with this matchup. NC State is projected to be among the top teams of the conference this season but the Tigers will be ready to avenge the loss from last year.

It won’t be easy, but an uber talented defense will make for a frustrating and painful day in Death Valley for Davey’s Pups. It will be a four quarter game but make no mistake, the Tigers will be victorious. Then, once again, all will be right in the universe.

OCT. 8 • AT BOSTON COLLEGE • ALUMNI STADIUM, CHESTNUT HILL, MASS.

After scheduling oddities from the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in Clemson hosting Boston College three straight seasons (2019-21), Clemson will return to Chestnut Hill on Oct. 8 to face Boston College on the road. That year, Clemson earned a 27-7 prime-time win in College GameDay’s featured game to clinch the ACC Atlantic Division as part of a 15-0 national championship season. Clemson has won 11 straight games in the series, its seventh-longest winning streak against a single opponent all-time and its fourth-longest against an opponent presently in the FBS.

Boston College is second to last in the Atlantic according to ESPN’s preseason FPI projections, ahead of only Syracuse. Also, according to those rankings, the Eagles have a minuscule chance of winning the division or the ACC.

Last season, BC only won two games, but they also played most of the season without a healthy Phil Jurkovec. Before that was the pandemic year, and it was the Steve Addazio era before that. That being said, the Eagles have a demonstrably harder schedule this year with four teams projected to win eight games or more. The Tigers being at the head of that list.

If Jurkovec can stay on the field, BC could surprise a few teams. I don’t believe Clemson will be one of those teams. It might be a contest for a while but by this juncture in the season, the Tigers should be rolling.

Tomorrow, check out volume four in our continuing series with the next two games of the 2022 season.