First look: Clemson’s new 2020 football schedule during COVID-19 era locked in
Clemson’s new-look 2020 ACC schedule is now set.
The ACC released the dates of Clemson’s games on Thursday after announcing the new opponents for the upcoming schedule last week.
The Tigers will begin the 2020 season at Wake Forest on Sept. 12. The home opener is slated for the following week against a nonconference opponent to be determined, while Clemson’s ACC home opener is Oct. 3 against Virginia.
Clemson’s schedule is back-loaded with three of the last four games being at Notre Dame on Nov. 7, at Florida State on Nov. 21 and at Virginia Tech Dec. 5. Clemson will also have a tought test when it hosts Miami on Oct. 10.
The Tigers have open weeks Sept. 26 and Nov. 14.
The ACC football schedule has been coming together for weeks as COVID-19 forced the original schedule to be nixed. The league scratched its original eight-game league slate with four out-of-conference games in favor of 10 conference games, plus one out-of-conference game.
Notre Dame is a part of the ACC in 2020, playing a full 10-game conference slate. The Fighting Irish are also eligible for the ACC title game.
The new format allowed for the Clemson-South Carolina rivalry to still take place. However, the SEC announced last week that it is only playing 10 league games. The USC-Clemson rivalry will not take place in 2020 for the first time since 1909 due to the SEC’s decision. Clemson AD Dan Radakovich and South Carolina AD Ray Tanner both shared their disappointment that the game will not take place.
“Clemson aggressively lobbied the ACC to include an additional non-conference game for the primary purpose of maintaining our long-standing rivalry game with South Carolina,” Radakovich said. “We’re disappointed to hear of the scheduling decision announced by the SEC, as we know the importance of The Palmetto Bowl to the State of South Carolina. We will work to fill the opening on our schedule immediately.”
New Clemson football 2020 schedule
Sept 12: at Wake Forest
Sept. 19: non-conference home game vs TBA
Sept. 26: Open
Oct. 3: vs. Virginia
Oct. 10: vs. Miami
Oct. 17: at Georgia Tech
Oct. 24: vs. Syracuse
Oct. 31: vs. Boston College
Nov. 7: at Notre Dame
Nov. 14: Open
Nov. 21: at Florida State
Nov. 28: vs. Pitt
Dec. 5: at Virginia Tech
This story was originally published August 6, 2020 at 9:06 AM.
