Here’s everything you need to know about the No. 10 Tigers’ trip to Winston-Salem, North Carolina to play Wake Forest and try to stay perfect in the ACC.
Clemson vs. Wake Forest game, TV info
Who: No. 10 Clemson (4-1, 3-0 ACC) at Wake Forest (2-3, 1-1 ACC)
That’s a big spread against a Wake team that’s struggled this year but just came back from down 10 in the fourth quarter to beat N.C. State on the road.
The Tigers have now been favored by at least 16.5 points in five straight games. They covered in three such instances against App State, N.C. State and Stanford before failing to cover against FSU. Clemson was favored by 16.5 points and won by 16.
Weather forecast for Winston-Salem, NC
Expect a warm and sunny afternoon in the Triad for Clemson-Wake Forest. The current Weather.com forecast for Winston-Salem on Saturday: sunny and warm with a high of 79 degrees and light winds. There’s no rain in the forecast.
Oct 5, 2024; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik (2) throws the ball against the Florida State Seminoles during the second half at Doak S. Campbell Stadium. Melina Myers/Imagn Images
Top storylines for the game
Clemson is in a good spot injury-wise headed into this game, much more than in recent weeks. The two most prominent injuries the Tigers have publicly disclosed are to DL Stephiylan Green and OL Harris Sewell, both of whom are key rotational pieces but not starters. Star defensive end Peter Woods (leg/knee) returned against Florida State last weekend after essentially a three-game absence and continues to ramp up to full health. Sophomore wide receiver Tyler Brown (ankle) is in the same boat as Woods.
The Tigers have been among the nation’s best teams when it comes to fast starts. Clemson has outscored opponents 90-0 in first quarters this season for a nation-leading scoring differential of plus-18. Take out the Week 1 loss to Georgia, in which the teams were tied 0-0 after one quarter, and the margin over the past four games is plus-22.5. Defensively, it’s the first time since 1990 that Clemson has recorded five straight first-quarter shutouts to start a season.
Coach Dave Clawson ’s squad is coming off a historic win. The Demon Deacons were trailing N.C. State in Raleigh, 30-20, with 8:43 remaining in the fourth quarter and scored two touchdowns in the final frame to win 34-30 . It’s one of only two known double-digit, fourth-quarter comebacks against a Power 5 school in program history. The only other instance: at N.C. State in 2018. That rally at Carter-Finley Stadium was a huge win for a Deacs squad that entered the game at 1-3 (including a home loss to a Sun Belt team).
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney’s career record against Wake Forest remains perfect. He’s 15-0 all time against the Demon Deacons. The past two games have been close, with Clemson winning 51-45 on the road in double overtime in 2022 and beating Wake Forest 17-12 at home in 2023. On the other side of things, Wake Forest has lost 65 straight games to Associated Press Top 10 teams, per research from DeaconsIllustrated . Its last win: against No. 4 Tennessee in 1946.
Sep 28, 2024; Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons quarterback Hank Bachmeier (9) keeps the ball for a run against the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin Cajuns during the second half at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium. Jim Dedmon/Imagn Images
Clemson vs. Wake Forest players to watch
Clemson C Ryan Linthicum : A redshirt junior and developmental success story, Linthicum now sits in the middle of an offense line that has cleared the way for 6.14 yards per carry, the seventh-best clip in the country.
Clemson CB Avieon Terrell : The true sophomore has been Clemson’s best cornerback all year and could become the first Tiger with a takeaway (fumble recovery or interception) in four straight games since 2009.
Wake Forest QB Hank Bachmeier : Bachmeier, 25, has been playing college football since 2019 and was previously at Boise State and Louisiana Tech. He has seven passing touchdowns this year against two interceptions.
Wake Forest DE Jasheen Davis : The team’s best defensive lineman, Davis has recorded 31.5 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks in his last 20 games for the Deacs.
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