Is that 34-3 Clemson loss to Georgia back on Labor Day weekend the real Clemson, or is it the series of impressive wins over teams with a combined 10-21 record since?
The closest game since the opener was the 29-13 win over 1-5 Florida State on Oct. 5, so, the Tigers haven’t played much meaningful football really all season to this point.
Each of the five wins in a row since the blowout loss in the opener have come over teams actually ranked below where the UVA Football team is right now in the ESPN Football Power Index.
I’m thinking the folks in Vegas, who’ve installed Clemson as a 21-point favorite, are putting too much value in those wins, and not enough value in what Virginia has done in its past three, blowing out a 4-2 Coastal Carolina team on the road, and beating Boston College by double-digits and coming within 1:55 of pulling the upset over Louisville last week.
I’m not here telling you that the ‘Hoos are going to shock the world down in Death Valley on Saturday, but I do think this one is going to be more competitive than what you’re being led to believe.
The Clemson offense
Junior QB Cade Klubnik is finally living up to the hype – his counting numbers are 254.7 passing yards per game, 66.8 percent completion rate, 17 TDs/2 INTs, 164.9 college passer rating, 116.9 NFL passer rating.
Clemson averages 200.8 yards per game on the ground, led by senior tailback Phil Mafah (604 yards, 6.9 yards per carry, four TDs in 2024).
Klubnik is second on the team with 224 sack-adjusted rushing yards, 100 of that total coming on scrambles (11.1 yards per scramble, 5.6 yards per designed run).
Where the Tigers will try to attack on the ground: the A gap, behind center (395 yards, 9.0 yards per attempt), and around left end (279 yards, 6.3 yards per attempt).
In the passing game, Klubnik’s top targets are 5’11” junior Antonio Williams (25 catches/33 targets, 353 yards, five TDs) and 6’6”, 240-pound senior tight end Jake Brinningstool (24 catches/32 targets, 289 yards, four TDs).
Also watch out for speed guy Bryant Wesco (11 catches/19 targets, 262 yards, which is 23.8 yards per catch) and 6’3” wideout TJ Moore (12 catches/18 targets, 190 yards).
You’d expect a Clemson team to have depth at the receiver spots.
The O line ranks eighth nationally in pass blocking and 73rd nationally in run blocking, per Pro Football Focus.
The Clemson defense
The D ranks eighth in the ACC in total defense (348.3 yards per game), fourth in passing defense (208.0 yards per game) and fifth in pass-defense efficiency (114.8 college passer rating against), and 11th in rushing defense (140.3 yards per game).
Sophomore edge rusher TJ Parker leads the unit with 17 QB pressures and four sacks.
Sophomore cornerback Avieon Terrell is the dude in pass coverage – 14 receptions on 30 targets for 189 passing yards, with one TD allowed, two INTs and three pass breakups.
Both will get lots of votes for first-team All-ACC on defense.
Special teams
The placekicker, Nolan Hauser, a freshman, is 10-of-12 on field-goal tries, but he hasn’t attempted a kick beyond 38 yards.
Senior punter Aidan Swanson averages 42.8 yards per kick, with just three of his 21 punts downed inside the 20.
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Chris Graham
