Saturday’s ACC Opener Should be an Interesting One

Saturday’s ACC opener between No. 21 Clemson and NC State should be an interesting one.

Usually, when these two rivals meet, the game is more about the defenses. However, both units are near the bottom of the ACC statistics in total defense, which means Saturday’s game at Memorial Stadium (noon, ABC) will be more about what the offenses do.

And that could be good for the guys dressed in orange.

The Tigers (1-1) are coming off their best offensive performance in four years after they racked up 712 total yards en route to a 66-20 win over Appalachian State on Sept. 7. Clemson set a record with 56 first-half points.

“It was one of the best games that I have ever been a part of,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said. “I never been a part of game where we had eight consecutive touchdowns. That was pretty amazing.”

It was also the first time the Tigers had a quarterback throw for more than 300 yards, a running back rush for 100 yards and two wide receivers total 100 yards in the same game since 2012.

“There were a lot of great things and a bunch of big plays,” Swinney said. “I think we had thirteen different guys that had a big play. So, it was just an explosive day running and passing.”

Clemson finished the game with 712 total yards.

Things are different for the Wolfpack (2-1). Before rallying to beat Louisiana Tech in the second half this past Saturday, they went six straight quarters without an offensive touchdown and trailed La. Tech 17-6 at halftime.

To make matters worse, quarterback Grayson McCall suffered an undisclosed injury in the second quarter. On Monday, head coach Dave Doeren said the former Coastal Carolina quarterback will not play against the Tigers.

True freshman CJ Bailey will start at quarterback for NC State. A former four-star prospect, Bailey finished 13 of 20 passing for 156 yards with an interception. He scored a rushing touchdown and had 27 yards rushing on four carries.

NC State currently ranks 16 ^th in the ACC in total offense, averaging just 342 yards a game. Clemson on the other hand is averaging 450 yards a game and is playing with a ton of confidence.

“Two games in a row we have given up no sacks on the offensive line. I am just really proud of those guys. No offensive turnovers. We were fifty percent on third down and hundred percent in the red zone,” Swinney said. “Just pleased with how we spread the ball around and how many people got involved. [Cade] Klubnik was elite. That was elite quarterback play.”