Syracuse Football 2026 Season Opponent Preview: The Clemson Tigers

Hope is alive for the Syracuse football team after last week’s upset over SMU. Fran Brown’s team is 4-4 on the season, two wins away from a bowl game, just in time to welcome an old friend back to the JMA Wireless Dome. Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers are set to return to the Dome for the first time since 2023 on Saturday. Much has happened since our preseason preview of the Tigers, so let’s check out where things stand with Clemson ahead of Saturday’s showdown.

Where is Clemson ranked?

The Tigers are not currently ranked, nor are they receiving votes. In fact, Clemson hasn’t been ranked at any point in the season.

Where is Clemson in the ACC standings?

With three conference games left to play, Clemson is 3-2 in ACC play. They are one of five two-loss teams in the conference, meaning they are just one game in the loss column behind second-place Wake Forest. If the Tigers can win out and get some help, a spot in the ACC Championship Game is still possible.

What did Clemson do last week?

Last week, the Tigers put the final nail in Mike Norvell’s coffin. Clemson traveled to Tallahassee and beat Florida State 36-24, with Norvell being fired soon after. Of course, the Tigers haven’t won back-to-back games since the first month of the season, when they beat North Carolina and Cal in consecutive weeks.

Who is Clemson’s quarterback?

Freshman Tait Reynolds is currently Clemson’s starting quarterback. The season began with senior Christopher Vizzina under center. However, he suffered an elbow injury during the second week of the season, opening the door for Reynolds to take over. Reynolds nearly won the job during preseason camp, so there was always a good chance he’d have become the starter by this point in the season anyway.

While the Tigers have high hopes for his future, Reynolds has endured growing pains as the starter. He has three touchdown passes and three interceptions across his six starts, while also taking 24 sacks this year. The Tigers have tried to lean on their running game, in which Reynolds is a key figure, so they don’t have to rely too much on the freshman to beat teams with his arm.

Of course, both Reynolds and the Clemson offense are coming off their best game of the season. The freshman had two passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown against Florida State, helping Clemson score 36 points after averaging just 20.3 points per game in the team’s previous four ACC games.

Who are Clemson’s other stars?

Despite having a young quarterback, Clemson’s best players are wide receivers. Bryant Wesco leads the team in both receptions and yards despite not having a touchdown this season. He’s likely to be an early- or middle-round NFL Draft pick if he leaves college after this season. T.J. Moore is also considered an NFL prospect despite a drop-off in his numbers from last season.

On defense, Will Heldt has been the star for Clemson, as many expected. He has three sacks over his last two games, giving him a team-high seven on the season. Heldt is also projected as an early- or mid-round selection in next year’s draft. Middle linebacker Sammy Brown is living up to expectations as the leader of the Clemson defense. Meanwhile, Corey Myrick and Jerome Carter give the Tigers one of the best safety duos in the ACC.

What is Clemson’s biggest flaw?

Clemson’s biggest issue this season has been the inexperience of Reynolds at quarterback combined with lackluster play by the offensive line. Running back Gideon Davidson has averaged just 45.5 rushing yards per game over his last four games because the offensive line has struggled to win consistently at the line of scrimmage. That unit is also partially responsible for Reynolds already getting sacked 24 times this season.

Of course, Reynolds has had a big learning curve in his first year in college. But a lack of support from the offensive line and running game hasn’t helped. This has made it harder for Reynolds to take advantage of Clemson’s dynamic wide receivers, as the downfield passing game has been limited. While there was some progress in Clemson’s 36-point outburst against Florida State last week, keep in mind the Seminoles gave up over 40 points to both Louisville and Miami in their two previous games, so it’s too soon to say if the Clemson offense has turned a corner.

How does Syracuse beat Clemson?

Not to sound like a broken record, but it bears repeating that Syracuse must limit its self-inflicted errors to win a game. In back-to-back games, the Orange has had a modest seven penalties, which is still a few too many but can be considered progress based on how the season has gone. Equally important, Syracuse won the turnover battle against SMU, and Steve Angeli playing mistake-free football is essential.

Beyond that, the Syracuse defense has to win at the line of scrimmage. If the Orange can force Reynolds to beat them with his arm and put him under pressure, they will limit the opportunities that Clemson’s wide receivers get to make game-changing plays.

Likewise, the Syracuse offensive line must be competitive to help the running game get going. The Tigers have a strong secondary and one of the best pass rushers in the ACC in Heldt, so the Orange must establish a running game and stay balanced offensively in what is likely to be a close, low-scoring game.

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