First look: Clemson unveils 2022 football schedule
Clemson gets going with ACC play right away this college football season, playing Georgia Tech in a Labor Day game Sept. 5 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, the ACC announced on Monday night on ACC Network.
The Tigers then have two nonconference games in Furman on Sept. 10 and Louisiana Tech the week after. Their nonconference also includes traveling to Notre Dame on Nov. 5 and hosting South Carolina in the regular season-ending Palmetto Bowl.
Clemson finished 2021 with a 10-3 record, going 6-2 in ACC play. The Tigers finished behind NC State and Wake Forest, which fell to Pitt in the ACC championship game.
Toughest stretch
Within a three-week span, the Tigers play at Wake Forest on Sept. 24, host N.C. State and then travel to Boston College. Based on the way things unfolded in 2021, this stretch of games will be crucial in determining the outcome of the Atlantic Division.
Clemson went 2-1 against those three opponents this past season, with wins over the Demon Deacons and Eagles coming at home. The loss to the Wolfpack in Raleigh came in double overtime, with the Tigers missing three crucial players in running back Will Shipley, linebacker James Skalski and defensive lineman Bryan Bresee.
This year, Clemson gets N.C. State at home, but the contest is sandwiched between road games at Wake Forest and Boston College. That presents a challenge in itself, especially considering the Tigers’ open date isn’t for another three weeks after the Boston College game. They’ll have to use the season’s first three games to sharpen up any potential weaknesses in preparation for thhis next three-week stretch, which will be crucial if the Tigers want to start a new streak of ACC titles.
Can’t-miss game
Clemson only has five games on the road this season, and the Week 10 contest at Notre Dame will be worth the travel on what will likely be a chilly Nov. 5 night. The two teams played twice in 2020 when the Irish had a one-year experiment as a member of the ACC.
The first meeting was Tigers quarterback DJ Uiagalelei’s breakout game. He broke a record for most passing yards thrown by a Notre Dame opposing quarterback, despite Clemson falling in double overtime 47-40. A month later, the Tigers routed the Irish 49-28 for their sixth straight ACC championship.
This year, Notre Dame has a new head coach in Marcus Freeman, who was previously the team’s defensive coordinator before getting the promotion. The Irish also had a Clemson alum join their staff in new wide receivers coach Chansi Stuckey, who came to South Bend from Baylor.
Although it won’t be a conference game, getting a chance to play Notre Dame will be a good test for the Tigers before they finish up the season against Louisville, Miami and South Carolina. It helps helps that Clemson has an open date right before heading to the Midwest for the clash with Notre Dame.
Here’s a look at the Tigers’ 2022 football schedule:
Clemson 2022 football schedule
TV channels, times to be determined later.
Sept. 5 (Mon): at Georgia Tech
Sept. 10: home vs Furman
Sept. 17: home vs Louisiana Tech
Sept. 24: at Wake Forest
Oct. 1: home vs NC State
Oct. 8: at Boston College
Oct. 15: at Florida State
Oct. 22: home vs Syracuse
Oct. 29: OPEN
Nov. 5: at Notre Dame
Nov. 12: home vs Louisville
Nov. 19: home vs Miami
Nov. 26: home vs South Carolina
This story was originally published January 31, 2022 at 7:51 PM.
