Clemson football vs. Wake Forest: Scouting report, score prediction
Then there was just Clemson.
Louisiana lost against Rice on Saturday, bringing an end to the nation’s longest winning streak at 15 games. The longest active streak among FBS programs now belongs to Clemson, which has won nine in a row.
That streak will be on the line when the No. 5 Tigers (3-0, 1-0 ACC) face No. 16 Wake Forest (3-0, 0-0) in a key early-season conference battle in Winston-Salem, N.C., on Saturday (noon, ABC).
Clemson also is riding a 13-game winning streak against the Demon Deacons, which means coach Dabo Swinney has never lost to Wake Forest since becoming the Tigers' coach midway through the 2008 season.
Here’s what to know about the matchup and a score prediction:
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Tigers must put pressure on Sam Hartman
Wake Forest’s offensive success begins and ends with redshirt junior quarterback Sam Hartman, who already holds the school record with 79 career touchdown passes.
“They’re built to score,” Swinney said. “They score 40-plus points a game, so they’re explosive. Then you’ve got a guy like Hartman – he’s like a coach out there. He knows where the manipulation is, he knows where the matchup is.”
Slowing down the Demon Deacons means keeping the wraps – and pressure – on Hartman, which the Tigers did effectively in last year’s victory, sacking Hartman eight times.
Wake Forest will be hard pressed to run on Clemson’s defense, so it’ll be up to Hartman to provide production and points.
Clemson secondary faces big challenge
Clemson is hopeful that cornerbacks Sheridan Jones and Nate Wiggins and safety Andrew Mukuba will be ready to return to the lineup after missing the majority of last week’s game with injuries.
The Tigers are going to need them.
Wake Forest has a talented group of receivers, led by preseason All-ACC pick A.T. Perry, who at 6-foot-5 is a difficult matchup for any defensive back. Perry, who set a school record with 15 touchdown receptions in 2021, had five catches for 113 yards against Clemson last season.
Swinney and Clawson are tight
Swinney and Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson are their own mutual admiration society.
“Dave is a friend,” Swinney said. “I’ve probably spent more time with Dave Clawson over the last three years than probably any coach – in person, but also a lot of phone calls, a lot of conference calls, a lot of Zoom calls. He’s just one of the great people in the profession and he does an amazing job.”
So how does Clawson feel about Swinney?
“I like Dabo, I respect him and I think he’s done a phenomenal job there, building a program – they’ve won double-digit games for a decade,” Clawson said. “They’ve been the best program in the ACC.”
Help could be on the way for Tigers
Clemson missed three key defensive players last week, but All-ACC defensive tackles Bryan Bresee and Tyler Davis also are expected to return for the Wake Forest game. Defensive end Xavier Thomas also could be back after undergoing foot surgery midway through preseason practice.
Clemson is 6-0 over the last three years when that trio is on the field together.
“A lot of those guys are going to be playing on Sundays,” Clawson said. “They are so disruptive. Their havoc rate, their ability to get people off schedule. … I could talk about eight of their defensive linemen; they’re that good, they’re that deep.”
Score prediction
Clemson 41, Wake Forest 24: Clemson drilled the Atlantic Division champion last November, rolling the Demon Deacons 48-27. A similar result could be in the offing, particularly if the Tigers’ defense is at or near full strength. Bottom line? Dabo will remain unbeaten in his 14th game against Wake Forest.
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Clemson football vs. Wake Forest: Scouting report, score prediction
