CLEMSON, S.C. — Clemson has one of its most important ACC openers in a long time, and the Tigers are going with a freshman quarterback to get it done.
With the program facing scrutiny following a blowout loss at LSU in Week 1 and then a lackluster performance in Week 2 against Georgia Southern, head coach Dabo Swinney is handing the keys to the car to freshman Tait Reynolds, who will make the earliest career start by a quarterback since Willie Jordan also started his first game three weeks into his freshman season in 1975.
Swinney named Reynolds the starter last Sunday. Christopher Vizzina, who started the first two games, injured his left arm in the Tigers’ win over Georgia Southern and was replaced by Reynolds, who completed 16 of 27 passes for 178 yards, while also rushing for another 36 yards.
“All I can tell you is (Reynolds) has played well enough and did enough stuff, and then CV did some things that he needs to be better at,” Swinney said. “The interception just can’t happen. The play was well designed and were it needed to be. He missed a play down in the red zone, just some things, it was just their body of work.
“We have been letting them compete and to play a couple of games and based on what we saw in the (Georgia Southern) game, Tait earned the opportunity to start this week. So, that’s where we are.”
Below are some other things you need to know about the Clemson-North Carolina game:
ABOUT THE TAR HEELS
North Carolina is 2-0 so far this season, with wins over TCU in Ireland and last week at home against ETSU.
In its last outing, UNC earned a 35-3 victory against ETSU in Carolina’s home opener to kick off the 100th season in Kenan Stadium. The Tar Heels have now won 26 straight games against FCS opponents.
Running back Demon June turned in a career performance with three rushing touchdowns on seven attempts, marking the first multi-rushing TD game of his young career.
The Tar Heels have allowed just 13 points through two games this season, tied for the second fewest in the conference and the fifth fewest nationally. UNC is one of three ACC teams that has allowed just one touchdown this season.
Carolina has recorded seven sacks as a team this season, which is second in the ACC and tied for 11th nationally.
Defensive tackle Xavier Lewis is tied for nation’s lead in tackles for loss through two games this season with 6.5. He had 4.5 in the season opener against TCU and followed that performance with two against ETSU.
DEATH VALLEY TURNS 84
Saturday’s game will mark exactly 84 years since Clemson christened Memorial Stadium with a 32-13 win against Presbyterian on Sept. 19, 1942. Head coach Frank Howard personally supervised the stadium’s build, helping lay the sod for a playing surface that years later would come to bear his name.
“We hung the gates at 1 p.m. and kicked off at 2 p.m.,” Howard once said with a chuckle.
Years later, the stadium would be nicknamed Death Valley by Lonnie McMillian, the head coach of the Presbyterian squad that became the venue’s inaugural victim. In the 84 years since its opening, the venue has become one of college football’s most iconic. Last week, Clemson completed its 450th all-time run down The Hill, though the pomp and circumstance surrounding the entrance did not grow into its current spectacle until a few decades later.
Clemson attempting to earn its 350th all-time win at Memorial Stadium since the facility opened in 1942. Clemson is 349-110-7 all-time in the venue.
IT DOES NOT HAPPEN OFTEN
Saturday’s game will be the 467th in Death Valley history, but it is expected to mark the first career start for Reynolds. The Arizona native is slated to become the ninth Clemson true freshman to start at quarterback since the Tigers abandoned the single wing in 1953. Thanks in large part to an 11-0 starting record by Trevor Lawrence in 2018, Clemson is 20-15 since 1972 in games started by true freshman quarterbacks.
TRYING TO MAKE AN ELITE GROUP
Reynolds will attempt to join Lawrence, Deshaun Watson and DJ Uiagalelei as the only Clemson true freshman quarterbacks to win their starting debuts since 1972.
GETTING HIS KICKS
Kicker Nolan Hauser (99) needs one extra point to become the sixth player in Clemson history to kick 100 extra points. He would join B.T. Potter (234), Greg Huegel (217), Chandler Catanzaro (203), Aaron Hunt (164) and Bob Paulling (107).- Hauser (222) chasing David Treadwell (233) for ninth in kick scoring and 13th in overall scoring in Clemson history.
CLEMSON IN ACC OPENERS
The 2026 campaign marks Clemson’s 74th season of membership in the ACC, dating back to the conference’s first year of play in 1953. In its previous 73 seasons of ACC membership, Clemson has posted a 45-27-1 record in conference openers.
Clemson has won nine of its last 11 ACC openers. Clemson’s eight-year winning streak in conference openers from 2015-22 was Clemson’s longest such streak in school history.
Swinney is 11-6 in ACC openers at Clemson, with five of the six losses coming on the road. Clemson’s ACC openers have disproportionately been played on the road in recent years. Before opening conference play at home this week, 12 of Clemson’s previous 14 conference openers were played away from Memorial Stadium.
–photo by Kevin Vandervort / Straight Up Sports