Meet Your Insider
Well, hey there, y'all! I'm Dixie-Lynn Pruitt, your Clemson insider at The Cover Window. I was a flag captain in the Tiger Band, and I read defensive fronts like choreography. Step, slide, swim move, sack. I travel and live with this team, and I own 43 orange items. I've named every one of them. My orange rain boots are named Darlene.
Here's my promise, sugar. I'm all Southern charm, but I don't sweeten the facts. Every number in this report has a source. If I don't know something, I'll say so plainly. I celebrate our players as young men first, I respect every opponent, and I thank the good Lord for Saturdays in the Upstate. Orange you glad I said it?
The School in 60 Seconds
Clemson started playing football in 1896 and owns an all-time record of 804-473-44, with a 27-23 bowl record. The Tigers won national championships in 2016 and 2018, beating Alabama both times. They've had six undefeated seasons, including the first-ever 15-0 team. Clemson made six straight College Football Playoff appearances from 2015 to 2021 and has 27 conference championships. More than 100 All-Americans and over 250 NFL players came through here.
Home is Memorial Stadium, which CFBD lists at 81,500 seats. The last five seasons: 10-3, 11-3, 9-4, 10-4 and 7-6.
The Coach and the Scheme
Dabo Swinney took over seven games into the 2008 season. CFBD lists Oct. 15, 2008, as his start. He won those 2016 and 2018 national titles, and he's the winningest head coach in both Clemson and ACC history.
This year's defense is the choreography I love. Clemson allows 330.8 yards per game (45th in FBS) and 21.5 points (49th). The pass defense ranks 39th at 189.3 yards per game. Against Charleston Southern, the defense held its opponent to 0 of 11 on third down and recorded Clemson's first shutout in five seasons.
The offense is still learning the routine. Clemson gains 340.7 yards per game (110th) and scores 22.3 points (106th). It converts 33.3% of third downs (116th). But it ran for 231 yards against Charleston Southern. Clemson is -4 in turnover margin, 113th.
Players to Know
QB Tait Reynolds: 943 yards, one touchdown, three interceptions, 64.9% completions.
RB Gideon Davidson: 430 yards on 79 carries and five touchdowns. He had a 7-yard touchdown run against Charleston Southern.
RB Chris Johnson Jr.: an SMU transfer who ran for two touchdowns against Charleston Southern.
WR Bryant Wesco Jr.: team-best 29 catches for 340 yards.
K Nolan Hauser: a career-long 59-yard field goal against Charleston Southern. He also made the 56-yard walk-off kick that won the 2024 ACC title over SMU. My heart.
S Kylon Griffin: scooped a kickoff fumble for a touchdown against Charleston Southern.
Will Heldt: team-high four sacks.
Corey Myrick: team-high 44 tackles.
The Conference Picture
Clemson is 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the ACC. The Tigers are 3-1 at home and 1-1 on the road. They opened with a 51-10 loss at LSU. Then came wins over Georgia Southern (22-7), North Carolina (28-20) and California on the road (24-10). Miami beat Clemson 41-13 at home. Last week came the 37-0 win over Charleston Southern.
After Virginia Tech, Clemson goes to Florida State and Syracuse, hosts Georgia Tech, visits Duke and finishes with South Carolina at home.
This Week: Game Preview from Both Sides
Virginia Tech (5-2) at Clemson (4-2) · Saturday, Oct. 24, 7:00 p.m. ET · Memorial Stadium, Clemson, S.C. · ESPN
Last time out. Clemson beat Charleston Southern 37-0 on Oct. 17. Virginia Tech beat Georgia Tech 34-24 the same day.
Clemson's offense vs. Virginia Tech's defense. Virginia Tech's run defense is stout, allowing 87.4 yards per game (10th). Its pass defense is more open, at 227.3 yards per game (95th). So Reynolds to Wesco is the step to practice. VT also holds opponents to 32.6% on third downs (29th), and that's our weak spot. Early-down success is the whole routine.
Virginia Tech's offense vs. Clemson's defense. The Hokies throw for 301.6 yards per game, 11th in FBS. Ethan Grunkemeyer completes 72.6% of his passes with 15 touchdowns and two interceptions. Que'Sean Brown just caught six passes for 182 yards. Our pass defense (39th) has to win this matchup. VT runs for 149.7 yards per game (83rd). Both teams are -4 in turnover margin.
Series. Clemson leads the series 24-12-1 and has won seven straight since 2011, per TigerNet and our game notes. Clemson won 24-14 in Blacksburg in 2024. Those figures are thin.
Availability. No official conference availability report has been published. I found no confirmed Clemson injury news.
Three questions that decide it:
1. Can our pass defense slow Grunkemeyer and Brown?
2. Can Clemson's offense convert third downs against a top-30 third-down defense?
3. Can the Tigers carry last week's 231 rushing yards into ACC play?
Ruthanne, the Virginia Tech insider, jumps every time her defense makes a stop. I twirl a flag. We'll be a sight.
Local Flavor
Saturday night, 7 p.m., on ESPN. The team runs down the hill in its traditional game-day entrance, and last week offensive lineman Elyjah Thurmon carried the American flag for Military Appreciation Day. Bless him. Wear your orange, welcome the Hokies kindly and pray for safe travels. Not an ad. Go Tigers.
My call: Clemson Tigers 27, Virginia Tech Hokies 24.