This Saturday Clemson and North Carolina will face each other for the first time since meeting in the 2022 ACC Championship game. In that last matchup Clemson won the game 39-10 to be last season’s ACC champion. This was also the game in which Cade Klubnik earned himself the starting quarterback role for the Tigers. Klubnik subbed in for a struggling DJ Uiagalelei and had a spectacular game. He would complete 20 of 24 pass attempts for 279 yards with one passing and one rushing touchdown. This great play from the young quarterback earned him the game’s MVP award. Since then, these two teams have had different strings of success over the last year.
Where They Are Now
Through the 2023 season, these two programs have seemed to be on different trajectories. For much of the season, North Carolina looked like a program ready to take their next steps to being not just a top team in the ACC but in the whole FBS. Going into their game against Virginia, the Tar Heels were ranked 10th in the country. After losing that game and being upset by Georgia Tech the next week much of that momentum started to slow down a bit. They were able to get two straight wins coming into this week though, including a tough overtime win against Duke last Saturday.
Clemson on the other hand had a rough start to the season. Even though they came into this season ranked ninth in the country, many were skeptical about Clemson still being the same dominant program. To start the season, they proved many of the critics right. Losing to Duke to start the season, then to Florida State a few weeks later put them at a 0-2 start in ACC games. After the first eight games of the season, Clemson was just 4-4 and 2-4 in the ACC. They did not look like the Clemson teams we’ve been accustomed to seeing. That was until the last two weeks. The Tigers were able to edge out a win against a top-15 team in Notre Dame. Then a three-touchdown victory against Georgia Tech. Now Clemson looks to be getting back on track.
Offense vs Defense
This matchup puts the best offense in the ACC against the best defense in the ACC. Statistically, the Tar Heels’ offense and the Tigers’ defense match up very well against each other. North Carolina is first in total offense in the conference, and Clemson is first in total defense. The Tar Heels have the top passing attack in the ACC, the Tigers have the second-best pass defense. In rush offense North Carolina is second best in the conference, in rush defense Clemson is fourth best. When these two units hit the field there will be so much NFL-level talent matching up against one another. This battle between the North Carolina offense and Clemson’s defense is going to be a must-see.
Tigers’ Keys to Victory
For the Tigers to win they must again stick to what has been bringing them the most success. Leaning on the run game and defense is not the most exciting way to play football. For Clemson though, that is where their strength is. They have two very talented running backs and a top-ten defense in the FBS. Allowing the run game to keep flourishing and letting the defense make plays makes the game easier for Klubnik.
North Carolina is good but not great on defense. One thing they do very well though is get interceptions. North Carolina and Clemson are tied for the second most interceptions in the ACC with 12 each. Allowing the run game to again force the defense to open up passing windows will be critical. Defensively the Tigers have to keep making plays and giving the offense opportunities.
Last but most importantly not turning the ball over will be very important. The Tigers have still yet to not have a turnover in a game this season but have gotten better with them. They did not fumble the ball at all last week, but Klubnik did throw one interception. Turnovers are what cost the Tigers their biggest conference games this season. If the Tigers can finally avoid the turnovers they can get another huge win heading into their last game this season against rival South Carolina.
