Let’s predict Clemson’s 2023 football schedule results, game by game

It’s the week before game week (well, an extended game week). What better time for some Clemson football schedule predictions?

In last year’s prediction column, I nailed Clemson’s regular-season record (10-2) and first loss (at Notre Dame) but whiffed on the second loss (vs. Louisville). That ended up coming two weeks later versus rival South Carolina.

With the season opener nearly upon us, here are my game-by-game picks for the Tigers, who are ranked No. 9 in the preseason AP Top 25.

Sept. 4: at Duke

Everyone from Dabo Swinney to Garrett Riley to Cade Klubnik will be under the microscope for this one. Clemson-Duke — just like Clemson-Georgia Tech last year — is the only game on TV on Labor Day night, offering fans a nice dessert after a smorgasbord of Week 1 games.

Duke impressed me a lot last season by going 9-4 in coach Mike Elko’s debut season. And I absolutely expect the Blue Devils to punch the Tigers in the mouth early in front of a massive home crowd — Steve Spurrier included! — and get some big plays from quarterback Riley Leonard, one of the best dual-threat guys in the ACC.

But I’m going to lean Clemson here. The Tigers have won 12 of their last 14 season openers and eight consecutive ACC openers. Even if Klubnik makes a mistake or two, I think the Tigers’ depth, talent and experience will eventually wear Duke down.

▪ Projected record: 1-0

Sept. 9: vs. Charleston Southern

Clemson has played an in-state FCS program annually since 2007, a nice tradition that gives the smaller school a payday and the Tigers a chance to play some of their younger guys.

Clemson will cruise here and hope to escape injury-free. Worth monitoring: Will true freshman quarterback Christopher Vizzina, heir apparent to Klubnik, take his first career snaps?

▪ Projected record: 2-0

Sept. 16: vs. Florida Atlantic

Boca Raton? More like Austin. Not only did FAU hire former Texas coach Tom Herman last cycle, but the Owls brought in former Texas quarterback Casey Thompson as a transfer and named him their starter this week.

Florida Atlantic may pop a chunk play or two, but it won’t be nearly enough to slow down Clemson in its first home night game of the season, LED lights and all.

▪ Projected record: 3-0

Sept. 23: vs. No. 8 Florida State

Here’s where things get interesting. Clemson beat FSU head to head last year, but the Seminoles ended up outranking the Tigers in the final AP Top 25 poll after going 10-3. And they’re loaded, with seven returning all-conference players led by QB Jordan Travis helping FSU rank ahead of Clemson in both major polls.

I think about this game in context of the 2022 Clemson-N.C. State game, which was also an early season AP top-10 matchup billed as the top conference game of the year but ended being far less dramatic.

These two teams will meet again — more on that later — but I’ll take the Tigers here, mostly on account of home-field advantage. Also, expect ESPN “College GameDay.”

▪ Projected record: 4-0

Sept. 30: at Syracuse

Syracuse has stayed within a touchdown of Clemson in two of their past four and in four of their past six meetings, including a memorable 2017 upset. And the Orange almost snuck out of Death Valley with a win last fall.

In their second road game of the year, I think the Tigers face their most adversity yet, go down early and eke out a win by a touchdown or less.

▪ Projected record: 5-0

Oct. 7: vs. Wake Forest

I appreciate the fact Swinney and Dave Clawson remain such good coaching buddies despite Swinney’s career records against Clawson (9-0) and Wake Forest (14-0), both of which are approaching Harlem Globetrotters-Washington Generals territory.

That’s not to say the Demon Deacons haven’t challenged the Tigers. But down a star quarterback in Sam Hartman, I don’t see Wake Forest scaring Clemson as much as it did in last year’s 51-45 double-overtime shootout game. This may be more like the 2021 game Clemson won 48-27.

▪ Projected record: 6-0

Oct. 21: at Miami

A wise man once said: “When The U is ‘back’ for the umpteenth time, proceed with caution.” Kidding, that’s just what I wrote in last year’s predictions. What applies in 2022 applies in 2023 for Miami, which went 5-7 last year and missed the postseason after ranking as high as No. 13.

Clemson has outscored Miami 178-30 during a four-game winning streak against the Hurricanes dating back to 2015 (that comes out to an average game score of 45-8). Coming off their bye week, expect the Tigers to continue that streak against Mario Cristobal and company.

▪ Projected record: 7-0

Oct. 28: at N.C. State

Clemson’s last trip to N.C. State ended with Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren smoking a fat cigar, drinking out of a red Solo cup and declaring his team’s curse against the Tigers was “broken.” Clemson’s players didn’t forget that loss last year, and they certainly won’t this year.

This is one of the tougher calls on the schedule. I think N.C. State’s new quarterback-offensive coordinator pairing of Brennan Armstrong and Robert Anae is legit, but a lot of things had to go right for the Wolfpack to upset Clemson in 2021. I’ll take the Tigers by a touchdown.

▪ Projected record: 8-0

Nov. 4: vs. No. 13 Notre Dame

Under these predictions, Clemson will be 8-0 with at least one ranked win and will likely find itself in a good position in the first College Football Playoff ranking on Oct. 31 — just like last year, when the Tigers debuted at No. 4 through nine weeks.

Days later, Clemson got outworked and outclassed by Notre Dame. Even with a change in venue, I’m predicting the same in 2023. Hartman — who almost beat Clemson last year with Wake Forest — gets his revenge and topples the Tigers in Death Valley. And industry star Marcus Freeman moves to 2-0 against Swinney.

▪ Projected record: 8-1

Nov. 11: vs. Georgia Tech

Minus a scare in 2021, Clemson hasn’t had a ton of issues with Georgia Tech, which was picked 12th of 14 teams in the 2023 ACC preseason poll.

Still smarting from a loss to Notre Dame, the Tigers get back on track here and win a ninth consecutive game against the Yellow Jackets.

▪ Projected record: 9-1

Nov. 18: vs. No. 21 North Carolina

This game is another toss-up thanks mostly to Drake Maye, the Tar Heels’ other-worldly quarterback who should spend most of 2023 battling with Southern Cal’s Caleb Williams for the Heisman Trophy and the No. 1 spot in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Clemson, though, figured out Maye as much as one can in December’s ACC title game, picking him off twice (he only had seven interceptions all season) and limiting him to one touchdown in a resounding 39-10 victory.

Maye’s still going to get his. That’s for sure. But with home-field advantage once again playing a role and UNC’s defense once again a little shaky, Clemson wins a shootout in Death Valley and reaches 10 wins for a 13th consecutive season.

▪ Projected record: 10-1

Nov. 25: at South Carolina

The anticipation for this year’s Palmetto Bowl has been building for months. It may already be the game of the year for Clemson and South Carolina — even more so if Clemson needs a win to stay in CFP contention and the Gamecocks can play spoiler to their rival in Columbia.

Barely anybody, myself included, was predicting last year’s result: a 31-30 USC win that, outside of being an all-time classic and the marquee win of the Shane Beamer era, quite literally kept Clemson out of the four-team CFP field by one point.

This time around, I’ll find some joy. South Carolina beats Clemson in consecutive years for the first time since 2012-13 behind another epic Spencer Rattler game and some special teams trickery.

The Tigers go into the following weekend’s ACC title game against Florida State — a divisionless rematch! — to play for a spot in the Orange Bowl. And this time around, Clemson-FSU will be much closer.

▪ Projected record: 10-2