Gameday Guide: Clemson vs. Wake Forest TV info, watch online, radio, more
Clemson will open the 2020 college football season when it travels to face Wake Forest on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020. Here is what you need to know about the game, being played in front of no fans during the COVID-19 pandemic:
When does Clemson football play today?
Who: No. 1 Clemson (14-1, 8-0 ACC in 2019) at Wake Forest (8-5, 4-4 ACC in 2019)
Kickoff time: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Watch on TV: ABC (Sean McDonough, Todd Blackledge, Todd McShay, Allison Williams)
Where: Truist Field in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Series history: Clemson leads 67-17-1 and has won 11 consecutive meetings in the series
Last meeting: Clemson won 52-3 last year at Memorial Stadium
Live stream: via WatchESPN
Radio: 93.1 FM in Columbia, 92.5 in Greenville, 105.5 in Clemson (Don Munson, Tim Bourret, Reggie Merriweather) ... See all the radio affiliates around the state here.
National radio: Westwood One (Brandon Gaudin, Derek Rackley)
Weather: Showers possible, with temperatures in the low 70s.
Clemson-Wake Forest: What’s at stake
1. Clemson is already the first team in ACC history to win five consecutive outright league titles, and the Tigers can push that number to six in 2020. Clemson has a chance to get off to a good start with a win Saturday at Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons won eight games last season and finished 6-1 at home.
2. ESPN’s College GameDay will be in Winston-Salem for the prime time matchup, and Wake Forest has a chance to earn its biggest win under Dave Clawson.
3. Clemson has a pair of Heisman candidates in Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne who will want to start their seasons on the right foot. Lawrence is the current Heisman favorite at 2-1 odds, according to oddshark. Etienne is tied for the 11th-best odds at 25-1.
Tigers, Deacons by the numbers (2019)
CU | WF | |
Points/Game | 43.9 | 31.9 |
Opp. Points/Game | 13.5 | 29.1 |
Yds. Rushing/Game | 240.4 | 175.7 |
Opp. Yds Rush/Game | 116.1 | 163.7 |
Yds. Pass/Game | 288.3 | 288.3 |
Opp. Yds. Pass/Game | 172.3 | 252.8 |
Avg. Yds./Game | 528.7 | 464 |
Opp. Total Yds/Game | 288.3 | 416.5 |
Clemson players to watch
1. Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence vowed to come back better after the Tigers lost to LSU in the national championship game in January. While some of the top players in college football opted out for the 2020 season, Lawrence was a part of a group leading the charge to play. After having some struggles early on last year, Lawrence would love to come out and make a statement in the opener.
2. Travis Etienne is the two-time ACC Player of the Year and is going for the three-peat in 2020. The Louisiana native surprised many when returned for his senior season, and Etienne is focused on making his final year his best yet.
3. Clemson is down two of its top defensive ends from last year in Xavier Thomas and Logan Rudolph, and Justin Foster could be out as well after missing time fall camp. Thomas is out for at least the first half of the year after battling COVID-19 and strep throat this summer, while Rudolph gave up football to pursue an acting career. Clemson needs someone to step up at defensive end and redshirt sophomore K.J. Henry could be that guy. Henry had 22 tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss in limited playing time last year.
Wake Forest players to watch
1. Quarterback Sam Hartman is replacing Newman and is a player the Tigers are familiar with. The Charlotte native started nine games as a true freshman in 2018, including against Clemson. Hartman has played in 13 games so far in his career. He has completed 56 percent of his passes for 2,814 yards, with 20 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
2. Defensive end Carlos Basham was named a preseason All-American by several outlets after finishing with 11 sacks and 18 tackles for loss last year.
3. Safety Nasir Greer had 65 tackles, three forced fumbles and an interception in 2019 and was named Honorable Mention All-ACC. He should be the leader of Wake Forest’s secondary.
Clemson depth chart
OFFENSE
QB - Trevor Lawrence (Taisun Phommachanh or D.J. Uiagalelei)
RB – Travis Etienne (Lyn-J Dixon, Darien Rencher)
WR - Joseph Ngata (Frank Ladson, Ajou Ajou)
WR - Cornell Powell (E.J. Williams, Will Brown)
WR – Amari Rodgers (Brannon Spector, Will Swinney)
TE - Braden Galloway (Davis Allen, J.C. Chalk)
LT - Jackson Carman (Walker Parks)
LG - Matt Bockhorst (Paul Tchio)
C - Cade Stewart (Hunter Rayburn)
RG – Will Putnam (Blake Vinson, Tayquon Johnson)
RT - Jordan McFadden (Mitchell Mayes)
DEFENSE
DE - Justin Foster (Justin Mascoll, Greg Williams)
DT - Tyler Davis (Ruke Orhorhoro, Tre Williams)
DT - Nyles Pinckney or Jordan Williams or Bryan Bresee
DE - K.J. Henry (Myles Murphy, Regan Upshaw)
SLB/NB – Mike Jones Jr. (Trenton Simpson or Tyler Venables)
MLB – James Skalski (Jake Venables, Kane Patterson)
WLB - Baylon Spector (Keith Maguire, LaVonta Bentley)
CB – Derion Kendrick or LeAnthony Williams (Sheridan Jones)
SS – Lannden Zanders (Ray Thornton, Jalyn Phillips)
FS – Nolan Turner (Joseph Charleston, Tyler Venables)
CB – Andrew Booth or Mario Goodrich (Fred Davis)
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK - B.T. Potter (Jonathan Weitz)
P - Will Spiers (Aidan Swanson)
KO - B.T. Potter (Aidan Swanson)
LS - Jack Maddox (Tyler Brown)
H - Will Swinney (Will Spiers)
PR - Derion Kendrick or Amari Rodgers
KR - Joseph Ngata or Travis Etienne
This story was originally published September 12, 2020 at 5:05 AM.
