Clemson vs. UNC football: Kickoff time, TV channel, stream, radio, line, weather

Clemson football is preparing for its 2023 home finale at Memorial Stadium as well as its senior day. And the opponent is a big one.

Here’s your gameday guide as the Tigers host No. 20 North Carolina. The Tar Heels are seeking their first win in Death Valley since 2001.

Clemson vs. UNC game, TV info

Who: No. 22 North Carolina (8-2, 4-2 ACC) at Clemson (6-4, 3-4 ACC)

When: 3:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: Memorial Stadium in Clemson

TV: ESPN

Broadcast crew: Bob Wischusen,Robert Griffin III, Kris Budden

Stream: Via ESPN or the ESPN app

Radio: 105.5 FM in the Clemson area (see all Clemson radio affiliates here)

Satellite radio: SiriusXM 137 or 193

Series history: Clemson leads 39-19-1 and has won 5 straight

Clemson vs. UNC Vegas odds

Clemson is a 6.5-point home favorite against UNC, according to the VegasInsider.com consensus line. That’s essentially the same betting line from the 2022 ACC championship game, when Clemson was favored by 7 points over UNC in Charlotte and won 39-10.

UNC’s underdog status has a lot to do with the Tar Heels dropping back-to-back games against unranked Virginia and Georgia Tech teams after starting 6-0 and ranking No. 10 nationally.

Weather forecast for Clemson, SC

Saturday will be “mainly sunny” with a high of 73 degrees and light/variable winds, according to the Weather.com 10-day forecast. The sun will set at 5:24 p.m., about halfway through the game, with temperature slowly dropping from there.

Rain isn’t in the forecast.

Top storylines for the game

• In beating No. 12 Notre Dame and Georgia Tech at home in back-to-back weeks, Clemson has generated some positive momentum and clinched bowl eligibility after a 4-4 start. That’s helped lessen the sting of the Tigers’ first four-loss season since 2011 and first four-loss season in conference play since 2010. Clemson, with a win over UNC, can avoid another lowlight Saturday — its first season with a losing record in ACC play since 1998. The Tigers have been .500 six different times since going 1-7 in conference play 25 years ago but never dipped below 4-4 since then.

• Clemson’s injury situation has cleared up a bit from the past two weeks, which saw the Tigers play without 15 or so scholarship players (their most injuries this season). For UNC week, defensive end Justin Mascoll (concussion) has been cleared and safety Tyler Venables could make his season debut following summer hip surgery. Linebacker Barrett Carter (ankle) is “getting better,” according to coach Dabo Swinney. Swinney’s also hopeful cornerback Sheridan Jones and safety Jalyn Phillips can go. Receiver Antonio Williams (toe) and left guard Marcus Tate (knee) remain out.

• North Carolina’s offense may be the best Clemson’s faced all year. Led by star quarterback and projected high NFL Draft pick Drake Maye, the Tar Heels rank third nationally in yards per game (520.6) and eighth nationally in points per game (39.9). Maye, named a semifinalist this week for the 2023 Davey O’Brien Award recognizing the country’s top quarterback, is third in the FBS in passing yards (3,145) and has 29 total touchdowns. Other threats include bruising running back Omarion Hampton (who leads the ACC in rushing yards) and speedy receiver Tez Walker, a Kent State transfer.

• But Clemson’s defense did as good of a job one can against Maye in last December’s ACC championship game, holding UNC to 10 points thanks primarily to some excellent red zone defense. This season, the Tigers are tops in the ACC and No. 6 nationally in total defense (271.8 yards per game allowed). That game-to-game consistency, combined with two steadier offensive performances from QB Cade Klubnik and company, has Clemson on a late tear. The Tigers are in position to win the turnover margin for a third straight game Saturday for the first time since the 2020 season.

Clemson vs. UNC players to watch

• Clemson C Will Putnam: Saturday’s senior day will be the last hurrah for Putnam, a fifth-year vet and one of only six players on record to play at least 3,000 career snaps for Clemson. He’s started every game at center the past two seasons.

• Clemson CB Shelton Lewis: Lewis, a true freshman, burst onto the scene against Georgia Tech with an interception return touchdown (on his very first career pick) and added four pass breakups, one shy of the school record set in 1985.

• UNC TE Bryson Nesbit: A matchup nightmare at tight end, Nesbit is another weapon for a deep UNC offense and has 508 receiving yards and five touchdowns this season.

• UNC LB Cedric Gray: An every-game starter for the Tar Heels, Gray is a tackling machine and leads UNC with 96 stops, including a season-high 18 against Virginia.

Clemson 2023 football schedule

• Sept. 4: at Duke, 28-7 L

• Sept. 9: vs. Charleston Southern, 66-17 W

• Sept. 16: vs. Florida Atlantic, 48-14 W

• Sept. 23: vs. Florida State, 31-24 L (OT)

• Sept. 30: at Syracuse, 31-14 W

• Oct. 7: vs. Wake Forest, 17-12 W

• Oct. 14: OPEN

• Oct. 21: at Miami, 28-20 L (2OT)

• Oct. 28: at N.C. State, 24-17 L

• Nov. 4: vs. Notre Dame, 31-23 W

• Nov. 11: vs. Georgia Tech, 42-21 W

• Nov. 18: vs. North Carolina, 3:30 p.m. (ESPN)

• Nov. 25: at South Carolina, 7:30 p.m. (SECN)

Clemson 2023 depth chart

Offense

• QB: Cade Klubnik (Hunter Helms)

• RB: Will Shipley OR Phil Mafah (Domonique Thomas)

• Outside WR: Beaux Collins (Ronan Hanafin)

• Outside WR: Adam Randall OR Troy Stellato

• Slot WR: Tyler Brown (Hamp Greene)

• TE: Jake Briningstool (Josh Sapp)

• LT: Tristan Leigh (Collin Sadler)

• LG: Trent Howard OR Collin Sadler

• C: Will Putnam (Ryan Linthicum OR Trent Howard)

• RG: Harris Sewell (Dietrick Pennington)

• RT: Blake Miller (Mitchell Mayes)

Defense

• DE: Xavier Thomas OR T.J. Parker

• DT: Tyler Davis OR Peter Woods (Payton Page)

• DT: Ruke Orhorhoro OR Peter Woods (DeMonte Capehart)

• DE: Justin Mascoll OR T.J. Parker

• Strongside LB: Wade Woodaz (Jamal Anderson)

• Middle LB: Jeremiah Trotter Jr. (Kobe McCloud OR Dee Crayton)

• Weakside LB: Barrett Carter (Wade Woodaz)

• CB: Avieon Terrell (Jeadyn Lukus OR Sheridan Jones)

• SS: Andrew Mukuba (Kylon Griffin)

• FS: R.J. Mickens (Jalyn Phillips OR Tyler Venables)

• Nickelback: Khalil Barnes (Andrew Mukuba)

• CB: Nate Wiggins (Shelton Lewis)

Special teams

• PK: Jonathan Weitz OR Robert Gunn III

• P: Aidan Swanson (Jack Smith)

• KO: Robert Gunn III (Aidan Swanson)

• LS (PK): Holden Caspersen (Philip Florenzo)

• LS (P): Philip Florenzo (Holden Caspersen)

• H: Clay Swinney

• PR: Hamp Greene OR Tyler Brown

• KOR: Will Shipley (Tyler Brown)