Clemson plays SMU today: Kick time, TV channel, injury report, score
Clemson football returns home for a big ACC game on Saturday.
Here’s your gameday guide for the Tigers’ battle with SMU, which is a rematch of the 2024 ACC championship game in Charlotte last December.
Clemson vs. SMU game, TV info
- Who: Clemson (3-3, 2-2 ACC) vs. SMU (4-2, 2-0 ACC)
- When: 3:30 p.m. Saturday
- Where: Memorial Stadium in Clemson
- TV: ACC Network
- Broadcast crew: Wes Durham, Steve Addazio, Dana Boyle
- Stream: Via ESPN or the ESPN app
- Radio: 105.5 FM in the Clemson area (see all Clemson radio affiliates here)
- Satellite radio: SiriusXM Channel 106 or 193
- Series history: Clemson leads 1-0 and won only meeting in 2024
Clemson vs. SMU Vegas odds
Clemson opened as an 11.5-point favorite against SMU. From there, the betting line dropped to Clemson by 10 — before plummeting on Thursday amid reports Clemson was concerned about whether starting quarterback Cade Klubnik (ankle) would be able to play vs. the Mustangs.
VegasInsider.com’s consensus line has Clemson favored by 4 points as of Saturday.
Weather forecast for Clemson, SC
Sunny with a high of 81 degrees and light winds, according to the Weather.com 10-day forecast. There’s a small chance of rain (8% during the day, 14% chance in the later afternoon/night).
Top storylines for the game
- All eyes are on the availability of Klubnik, Clemson’s senior starting quarterback who hurt his ankle late in the third quarter of Saturday’s win at Boston College and didn’t return. Swinney was initially optimistic about Klubnik’s status, but TigerIllustrated.com reported Thursday there was concern about Klubnik’s injury. Clemson listed Klubnik as questionable on Thursday’s initial ACC availability report. His absence would be a big hit for the Tigers, who’d have to turn to redshirt sophomore and unproven backup QB Christopher Vizzina.
- On the other side of the field, Clemson faces SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings, who Swinney calls the “most dynamic quarterback” his team has played so far in 2025. That’s high praise, considering Georgia Tech QB Haynes King beat up on Clemson earlier this year. Jennings — who rallied SMU from a 17-point fourth quarter deficit in last December’s ACC title game before Clemson won on a walk-off field goal — ranks No. 14 nationally in passing yards per game (276.3) and has 15 touchdowns. He has thrown six interceptions, though.
- The Tigers enter Saturday on a stunning home losing streak — they have not beaten a power conference team at Memorial Stadium in nearly a year. Since beating Virginia in October 2024, Clemson is just 2-4 at home, with the only wins coming against The Citadel (FCS) and Troy (Sun Belt). Clemson has dropped four straight to P4 teams at home — Louisville and No. 16 South Carolina in 2024, No. 9 LSU and Syracuse in 2025. It’s a stunning trend for a program that once ripped off 40 — 40! — consecutive home wins from 2016 through 2022.
- Clemson has beaten up on two bad ACC teams that point spreads indicated it was supposed to beat. How will the Tigers look Saturday against a more competitive team, though? It’s been almost three weeks since Syracuse, a 17.5-point underdog, embarrassed Clemson 34-21 on its home field and dropped the Tigers to 1-3 and 0-2 in the ACC. Clemson has generated some momentum with blowout wins against UNC and Boston College, but this will be a better test of how much progress the team’s actually made. Is this a roster that could run the table and finish 9-3 or 8-4? Or is Clemson going to be scrapping for a bowl come November? Even with questions at QB, it’s a game where look, feel and vibe will matter.
Clemson vs. SMU players to watch
Clemson LT Brayden Jacobs: The true freshman impressed while playing a career-best 65 snaps vs. Boston College and could get his first career start with Tristan Leigh still banged up.
Clemson DE T.J. Parker: His sack production is down (two sacks in six games after 11 last season), but the star junior has elevated his game after a poor start to the 2025 season.
SMU WR Romello Brinson: A 6-2 Miami transfer, Brinson currently ranks top 10 in the ACC in receiving yards (484), yards per game (80.7) and touchdowns (three)
SMU DE Cameron Robertson: 6-4 senior has a team-high 4.5 sacks, 7.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles — all career highs for him, despite only having played six games.
Clemson 2025 football schedule
Listed with known kickoff times and TV channels
- Aug. 30: vs. No. 9 LSU, L 17-10
- Sept. 6: vs. Troy, W 27-16
- Sept. 13: at Georgia Tech, L 24-21
- Sept. 20: vs. Syracuse, L 34-21
- Sept. 28: OFF WEEK
- Oct. 4: at UNC, W 38-10
- Oct. 11: at Boston College, W 41-10
- Oct. 18: vs. SMU, 3:30 p.m. (ACC Network)
- Oct. 25: OFF WEEK
- Nov. 1: vs. Duke
- Nov. 8: vs. Florida State
- Nov. 14: at Louisville/Friday game, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
- Nov. 22: vs. Furman
- Nov. 29: at South Carolina, noon (ESPN or ABC)
Clemson 2025 football depth chart
As of Oct. 13
Offense
QB: Cade Klubnik (Christopher Vizzina)
RB: Adam Randall (David Eziomume OR Gideon Davidson)
Outside WR: T.J. Moore (Tristan Smith)
Outside WR: Bryant Wesco Jr. (Cole Turner)
Slot WR: Antonio Williams (Tyler Brown)
TE: Olsen Patt-Henry (Josh Sapp OR Christian Bentancur)
LT: Tristan Leigh (Brayden Jacobs)
LG: Collin Sadler OR Harris Sewell
C: Ryan Linthicum (Harris Sewell)
RG: Walker Parks OR Elyjah Thurmon (Mason Wade)
RT: Blake Miller (Mason Wade)
Defense
DE: Will Heldt OR Jahiem Lawson
DT: DeMonte Capehart OR Stephiylan Green (Amare Adams)
DT: Peter Woods OR Stephiylan Green (Vic Burley)
DE: T.J. Parker (Cade Denhoff)
MLB: Sammy Brown (Jeremiah Alexander OR Dee Crayton)
WLB: Wade Woodaz (Kobe McCloud OR Dee Crayton)
CB: Avieon Terrell (Branden Strozier)
Tiger (nickel): Misun Kelley (Corian Gipson OR Noah Dixon)
Rover (SS): Khalil Barnes OR Ronan Hanafin (Tyler Venables)
FS: Ricardo Jones (Kylon Griffin)
CB: Ashton Hampton OR Jeadyn Lukus (Corian Gipson)
Special teams
PK: Nolan Hauser (Robert Gunn III)
P: Jack Smith (Robert Gunn III OR Will McCune)
KO: Robert Gunn III
LS (PK): Holden Caspersen
LS (P): Philip Florenzo
H: Clay Swinney
PR: Antonio Williams OR Bryant Wesco Jr.
KOR: Adam Randall
This story was originally published October 17, 2025 at 8:00 AM.
