Dabo Swinney – Syndication Server

Complete list of experts’ bowl projections for Clemson football entering Week 13

A look at the experts’ latest bowl game projections for Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers.

Entering Week 13 of the 2024 college football season, it can be somewhat hard to project where Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers will spend bowl season in December/January.

On the one hand, Clemson (up to No. 17 in the latest CFP rankings) still has a chance, however slim, to reach the ACC Championship Game in Charlotte on Dec. 7. Doing so would guarantee the Tigers of at least a shot at reaching the College Football Playoff.

And if the Tigers win the ACC title game and get to 11-2 overall, they’d get a first-round bye and play in the Peach Bowl in Atlanta against the winner of the No. 6 vs. No. 11 seed game.

More realistically? The Miami Hurricanes and SMU Mustangs, the two teams on course to get to Charlotte, probably aren’t losing their final regular season games in conference play.

Cam Ward and the Hurricanes close out the year with a home game against Wake Forest this Saturday before hitting the road to play Syracuse, while Rhett Lashlee’s Mustangs have conference games against Virginia and California to close the regular season.

Heading into Week 13, here’s what national college football writers and others in the sport’s media universe are saying about Clemson’s bowl game projections — and which teams they might face.

Clemson Football’s Latest Bowl Projections

Pop-Tarts Bowl (Orlando, Fla., Dec. 28)

USA TODAY Sports analyst Erick Smith sees the Tigers making a trip to Orlando to play in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. The only difference in Smith’s projection from last week is who the Tigers will face. With the BYU Cougars falling 17-13 to the Kansas Jayhawks in Week 12, BYU replaces Iowa State as Smith’s Big 12 representative.

This matchup would be a first, as Clemson and BYU have never met on the football field. The Pop-Tarts Bowl has been known by several names, the longest being the Champs Sports Bowl (2004-11). Some fans will recall its original name — the Blockbuster Bowl (1990-93).

Duke’s Mayo Bowl (Charlotte, N.C., Jan. 3, 2025)

CBS Sports’ Jerry Palm still sees Clemson in a bowl that’s a lot closer to the Upstate: the Duke’s Mayo Bowl at Bank of America Stadium to kick off 2025. Palm has the Tigers facing the Big Ten’s Minnesota Golden Gophers. Minnesota sits at 6-4 and has upset wins over the USC Trojans and Illinois Fighting Illini this season.

The Tigers and Gophers have met once before — in the 1985 Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La., a 20-13 Minnesota win.

The Sporting News’ Bill Bender agrees with the Duke’s Mayo Bowl projection and has Clemson in that game against Kirk Ferentz and the Iowa Hawkeyes. As with Minnesota, Clemson and Iowa have never met in a head-to-head contest.

Holiday Bowl (San Diego, Calif., Dec. 27)

This has been a pretty common bowl game projection for the Tigers since their stunning 33-21 loss to Louisville on Nov. 2.

ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura has Clemson in the Holiday Bowl against Deion Sanders’ Colorado Buffaloes. Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter and the Buffaloes still have a path to the College Football Playoff (as do the Tigers, no matter how narrow), so this projection could change for both teams in the coming weeks.

247Sports’ Brad Crawford also forecasts a West Coast trip for Cade Klubnik and the Tigers in a Holiday Bowl matchup against Coach Prime and Colorado. The same goes for The Athletic’s Stewart Mandel and Scott Dochterman (subscription required), who see Clemson taking on the Washington Huskies.

Crawford said of the Tigers:

“Clemson’s comeback win at Pitt kept Clemson alive in the ACC race, but this looks like Miami or SMU’s league to win. Arizona State’s upset of Kansas State means the Sun Devils are streaking and have a chance to really toss a wrench in the Big 12 picture the rest of the way.”

Veteran college football reporter Brett McMurphy also sees Clemson in the Holiday Bowl, only against Arizona State.

ReliaQuest Bowl (Tampa, Fla., Dec. 31)

Sports Illustrated’s Patrick Andres sees Clemson in the Sunshine State on New Year’s Eve in the game formerly known as the Outback Bowl. Andres forecasts Clemson to be playing an SEC team in Tampa: Diego Pavia and the Vanderbilt Commodores.

Interestingly, Clemson and Vanderbilt have met four times previously, but none have been in the past 60-plus years. The two programs last played in 1960, a 22-20 Commodores win in Nashville. Vanderbilt leads the all-time series vs. the Tigers, 3-1.

Clemson has played in this bowl only once before, on New Year’s Day 1991 when it was called the Hall of Fame Bowl. In that game, coach Ken Hatfield’s Tigers blanked Illinois, 30-0, in a nationally televised contest on NBC to finish the season 10-2 overall and No. 9 in the final Coaches Poll.

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Dabo Swinney comments on Clemson football’s depleted offensive line

Swinney on Clemson’s depleted offensive line.

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney provided a concerning update on the Tigers’ offensive line as they prepare for Saturday’s matchup with The Citadel.

Heading into practice, nine offensive linemen were unable to participate, adding to the growing list of injuries. Swinney noted the critical loss of left tackle Elyjah Thurmon, who suffered a foot injury in last week’s game against Pitt and is set to undergo surgery. His absence, along with the unavailability of Dietrick Pennington, Collin Sadler, Ian Reed, and Watson Young, has left the offensive line in a tough spot.

“We’ve been pretty lucky up to this point, but we’ve definitely hit a rough patch,” Swinney explained. “When it rains, it pours.” The Tigers are also dealing with injuries to left guard Marcus Tate and Tristan Leigh, although Swinney noted that both are progressing well. Despite the challenges, Swinney remains hopeful, especially with Tate and Leigh trending in the right direction. “We’ll figure it out,” he said. “No excuses. We just have to find a way to make it work.”

Perhaps the most challenging blow has been the loss of Collin Sadler, who Swinney described as a versatile player capable of filling multiple positions along the line. “Sadler can do a lot of things for us, and that hurts,” Swinney acknowledged, emphasizing the difficulty of replacing a player of his caliber.

Despite the adversity, Swinney’s message remains clear: the team must adapt and keep pushing forward. “We’ll make it work. This team has handled adversity all season long, and we’ll find a way to do it again.” With a deep roster, the Tigers will lean on some of their younger players and walk-ons to step up in a crucial moment.

The Citadel head coach says you ‘better not say anything bad’ about Dabo Swinney

Don’t speak negatively on Swinney in front of this head coach.

The Citadel head coach Maurice Drayton holds Clemson’s Dabo Swinney in the highest regard, crediting him for a moment of personal kindness that left a lasting impression.

Drayton recalled his time as an assistant at Coastal Carolina when he brought his son Montrel, who was battling heart issues, to visit Clemson. Swinney and his staff welcomed them with open arms, creating a memory Drayton cherishes to this day. Montrel even participated in the Tigers’ post-practice team breakdown, a gesture that meant the world to the Drayton family.

Drayton emphasized how Swinney’s warmth and genuine character stood out, recounting how Swinney still refers to him as “Montrel’s dad.” This deeply personal connection fuels Drayton’s unwavering support for the Clemson coach. “You better not say anything bad about Dabo around me,” Drayton said passionately. It’s clear that for Drayton, Swinney’s leadership transcends football, rooted in compassion and authenticity.

The Citadel coach also highlighted how these values translate into Swinney’s approach to the game. As Clemson gears up to face The Citadel, Drayton doesn’t view Swinney merely as an opposing coach but as a person who embodies the best qualities of mentorship and humanity. These shared experiences reflect how coaching can leave a meaningful impact far beyond the field.

Dabo Swinney on the expectation for Clemson’s depleted offensive line

Swinney on Clemson’s offensive line.

Clemson football’s offensive line depth took another hit during Saturday’s 24-20 victory over Pitt as freshman Elyjah Thurmon suffered what head coach Dabo Swinney described as a likely season-ending injury on the very first play. Thurmon had stepped into the starting lineup due to Tristan Leigh’s absence, as Leigh is recovering from an ankle injury suffered in last week’s win over Virginia Tech. Marcus Tate also missed both games, leaving the Tigers scrambling for solutions.

The season-ending losses of Collin Sadler, Dietrick Pennington, and Ian Reed have further strained the team’s situation, leaving Clemson’s offensive line alarmingly thin. When asked Sunday about managing the position group, Swinney acknowledged the challenge. “Yeah, we got a feel,” he said. “It’s crazy.”

Clemson faces The Citadel at home this Saturday, and Swinney hinted that the matchup might provide an opportunity to rest players. “We’ve got a whole week to figure it out,” he said. Swinney expressed cautious optimism about Leigh and Tate’s recovery, saying, “I do feel good about where Tristan and Marcus are, as far as the progress that they’re making. Hopefully, they’ll keep trending in a good direction.”

The Tigers will need to piece together a patchwork offensive line for at least another week, with the hope that Leigh and Tate might soon return to action. Meanwhile, the team continues to adapt in the face of mounting challenges.

Clemson football will wear its iconic purple uniforms vs. The Citadel

Take a look at this year’s purple uniform combination that Clemson will wear for Saturday’s game against The Citadel.

Dabo Swinney’s Clemson Tigers are set to wear their classic purple jerseys for this week’s game against The Citadel, the team announced on its social media platforms on Monday.

Clemson will wear purple jerseys over purple pants for Saturday’s game. Kickoff for Clemson vs. The Citadel is set for 3:30 p.m. ET in Death Valley. The game will be televised on The CW.

Clemson celebrates Military Appreciation Day every year by wearing its purple uniforms in reverence to the Purple Heart award. The Tigers wore their purple uniforms in last year’s 42-21 victory over Georgia Tech on Nov. 11.

In previous years, Clemson wore the purple jerseys against Louisville in 2022, against UConn in 2021, and against Pitt in 2020.

Clemson is ranked No. 16 in this week’s US LBM Coaches Poll following their 24-20 victory over Pitt on Saturday.

.@ClemsonFB‘s iconic uniform combination is set to return to Memorial Stadium this weekend! 🐅🏈 pic.twitter.com/u63hdxP6xt

— Clemson Athletics (@ClemsonTigers) November 18, 2024

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Where Clemson ranks in new US LBM Coaches Poll after last-minute win at Pitt

Here’s where the Clemson Tigers are ranked in the new US LBM Coaches Poll after their late rally against Pitt.

The Clemson Tigers survived an upset scare on Saturday against the Pitt Panthers at Acrisure Stadium to keep their ACC championship hopes alive with two games left in the regular season.

Unfortunately, the fact that the Tigers (8-2 overall, 7-1 ACC) needed a late 50-yard touchdown run by Cade Klubnik for a last-minute 24-20 victory didn’t impress many pollsters. Clemson stayed at No. 16 in the new US LBM Coaches Poll, released Sunday.

The Tigers are ranked one spot below No. 15 BYU (9-1), which lost its first game of the season in a 17-13 upset home loss to Kansas on Saturday. Dabo Swinney’s team is ranked one spot ahead of No. 17 Army (9-0), which has already clinched a berth in the AAC Championship Game.

As for the top 5-10, the Oregon Ducks (11-0) remained No. 1 for the fifth straight week after surviving a close call against Wisconsin at Camp Randall. Ohio State (9-1) stayed at No. 2 after beating Northwestern, 31-7, in a game played at Wrigley Field.

The Texas Longhorns (9-1) stayed at No. 3 after their 20-10 win over Arkansas. Penn State (9-1) rose to No. 4 after Tennessee’s 31-17 loss to Georgia, and the Indiana Hoosiers (No. 5, 10-0) moved into the top five of the Coaches Poll for the first time this season.

Miami (9-1) remained the ACC’s highest-ranked team and rounded out the top 10. SMU (9-1) rose one spot to No. 12. Clemson needs either a Miami loss to Wake Forest or Syracuse in the Hurricanes’ final two regular season games, or an SMU loss to Virginia or Cal in order for the Tigers to reach the ACC Championship Game in Charlotte.

The Tigers moved up three spots to No. 20 in last week’s College Football Playoff rankings, one spot ahead of rival South Carolina. LaNorris Sellers and the Gamecocks improved to 7-3 on Saturday and climbed four spots to No. 19 in this week’s Coaches Poll.

Clemson hosts South Carolina in Death Valley on Nov. 30, a week after the Tigers face The Citadel in Week 13. Kickoff for Clemson vs. The Citadel this Saturday is set for 3:30 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on The CW network.

Full Week 12 US LBM Coaches Poll

Rank	Team	Record	Points
1	Oregon Ducks	11-0	1,375 (55)
2	Ohio State Buckeyes	9-1	1,316
3	Texas Longhorns	9-1	1,263
4	Penn State Nittany Lions	9-1	1,158
5	Indiana Hoosiers	10-0	1,109
6	Notre Dame Fighting Irish	9-1	1096
7	Alabama Crimson Tide	8-2	996
8	Georgia Bulldogs	8-2	993
9	Ole Miss Rebels	8-2	984
10	Miami Hurricanes	9-1	847
11	Tennessee Volunteers	8-2	823
12	SMU Mustangs	9-1	744
13	Boise State Broncos	9-1	714
14	Texas A&M Aggies	8-2	646
15	BYU Cougars	9-1	633
16	Clemson Tigers	8-2	569
17	Army Black Knights	9-0	509
18	Colorado Buffaloes	8-2	464
19	South Carolina Gamecocks	7-3	379
20	Tulane Green Wave	9-2	280
21	Iowa State Cyclones	8-2	268
22	Arizona State Sun Devils	8-2	251
23	UNLV Rebels	8-2	93
24	Memphis Tigers	9-2	77
25	Kansas State Wildcats	7-3	67

Schools Dropped Out

No. 18 Washington State; No. 21 Missouri; No. 22 LSU; No. 24 Louisville;

Others Receiving Votes

Washington State 65; Illinois 56; Missouri 44; Syracuse 18; James Madison 11; Duke 9; Pittsburgh 7; Louisiana 5; Louisville 2; Vanderbilt 1; Sam Houston 1; LSU 1; Colorado State 1;

Dabo Swinney doesn’t ‘know what targeting is anymore’ after Sammy Brown’s ejection

What looked like a perfect hit resulted in targeting.

Clemson football head coach Dabo Swinney didn’t hide his frustration after the Tigers’ 24-20 win over Pittsburgh, specifically addressing two controversial calls: a fourth-quarter personal foul on Dee Crayton and a second-quarter targeting call on freshman linebacker Sammy Brown.

Brown was ejected late in the first half after a hit on Pitt quarterback Nate Yarnell, which officials ruled as targeting and upheld upon review. Swinney felt the contact was clean and expressed his bewilderment. “I don’t know what targeting is anymore. I really don’t,” he said. “It changes every week. I’ve been coaching for a long time, and I just don’t know what it is.”

Swinney referenced another disputed targeting call from Miami’s win over Cal earlier this season to emphasize his point. “There was a targeting call in the Cal-Miami game earlier this year… I don’t know what targeting is anymore,” he added.

Brown’s ejection compounded issues for Clemson’s already depleted linebacker group, which was missing starter Wade Woodaz due to a practice injury. Despite the challenges, Clemson’s defense held Pitt to 20 points, with key contributions from several players.

Swinney ended on a lighter note, joking, “I’m going to have to go to a seminar in the offseason or something. Targeting anonymous. I don’t know. I have no idea.” His remarks highlighted the impact of officiating and injuries on his team’s hard-fought win.

Dabo Swinney on why Wade Woodaz didn’t play against Pitt

Swinney on Woodaz missing the Pitt game.

Clemson football head coach Dabo Swinney shed light on the absence of linebacker Wade Woodaz in the Tigers’ narrow 24-20 win over Pitt on Saturday at Acrisure Stadium. Although Woodaz traveled with the team, he was sidelined due to a thigh bruise sustained during practice earlier in the week. Swinney did not provide a timeline for his return.

Woodaz, a key defensive leader, has been instrumental for Clemson this season, leading the team with 65 tackles, along with 6.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, four pass breakups, and nine quarterback pressures. His absence was felt on Saturday, particularly as the Tigers’ linebacker corps was stretched thin. Freshman Sammy Brown stepped in to start as a middle linebacker but was ejected late in the second quarter for targeting, leaving Clemson even more shorthanded.

The defensive challenges extended beyond linebacker depth. Injuries piled up throughout the game, with RJ Mickens exiting late in the fourth quarter and Sammy Brown’s ejection exacerbating the team’s difficulties. Yet, despite these setbacks, Clemson’s defense managed to hold Pitt in check when it mattered most, including a game-sealing interception by Khalil Barnes on Pitt’s final drive.

Clemson will look to regroup and get healthier as they prepare to host The Citadel next weekend. With Woodaz’s status uncertain, the Tigers’ depth will remain a concern as they push to stay in the ACC title race.

Best Photos: Clemson football keeps season alive with late Week 12 rally at Pitt

View the best images from Clemson’s thrilling 24-20 late road win over PItt.

Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers survived a would-be second-half collapse and rallied late for a 24-20 victory over the Pitt Panthers Saturday at Acrisure Stadium, formerly Heinz Field.

Clemson (8-2, 7-1) had coughed up a 17-7 halftime lead and trailed 20-17 after Ben Sauls’ 47-yard field goal put Pitt ahead for the first time all afternoon with 1:36 to play in the game.

That’s when Cade Klubnik gashed the Panthers. After Clemson took over at its 25 on the next series, Klubnik hit Antonio Williams for 18 yards and a first down to the 43, then found tight end Jake Briningstool for seven more to put the Tigers at midfield.

Klubnik then dropped back, called his own number, veered right and went the distance for a 50-yard touchdown run that gave Clemson the lead with 1:16 left. The Tigers’ quarterback drove/wheeled his team 75 yards on three plays that took only 20 seconds.

Pitt backup quarterback Nate Yarnell drove the Panthers (7-3) to the Clemson 26-yard line before Khalil Barnes made a game-ending interception near the goal line to seal the victory and keep the Tigers’ College Football Playoff hopes alive.

Clemson needs the ACC leading SMU Mustangs (9-1, 6-0) to drop its final two games or the Miami Hurricanes (9-1, 5-1) to lose to either Wake Forest or Syracuse for the Tigers to get to the ACC Championship Game in Charlotte on Dec. 7.

Here are some of the best photos from Clemson’s thrilling 24-20 Week 12 victory over the Pitt Panthers.

USA TODAY Sports experts’ predictions for must-win Clemson-Pitt showdown

Here’s who USA TODAY Sports experts think will win Saturday’s ACC showdown between No. 16 Clemson and Pitt.

After getting back in the win column with a 24-14 victory over the Virginia Tech Hokies, Cade Klubnik and the Clemson Tigers will look to keep their College Football Playoff hopes alive when they head to Pittsburgh to face Pat Narduzzi and the Pitt Panthers.

The Tigers (7-2) got three second-half touchdown passes from Cade Klubnik and scored 24 straight points against Virginia Tech after being held scoreless in the first half. Dabo Swinney’s team will hope for a better start against the Pittsburgh defense.

Panthers quarterback Eli Holstein left his team’s 24-19 loss to Virginia last week with an apparent head injury and is reportedly questionable for Saturday’s game against the Tigers.

Clemson moved up one spot to No. 16 in this week’s US LBM Coaches Poll. In the updated College Football Playoff Rankings released Tuesday, Clemson rose three spots to No. 20.

Pitt (7-2) is coming off back-to-back losses to ACC leader SMU in Week 10 and to Tony Elliott’s Virginia Cavaliers last Saturday.

On Thursday, the six-member panel of Dan Wolken, Paul Myerberg, Eddie Timanus, Scooby Axson, Jordan Mendoza and Erick Smith all predicted the Tigers to win Saturday’s game against Pittsburgh in the group’s weekly Top 25 college football predictions.

Kickoff for Saturday’s Clemson-Pitt game is set for noon ET. The game will be televised on ESPN.

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