The 7-2 Pitt Panthers have a big test this weekend when the Clemson Tigers come to Acrisure Stadium for a noon kickoff on Saturday. Clemson enters with a 7-2 record of its own, and is coming off of 24-14 win over Virginia Tech last weekend. Here is everything you need to know about Pitt's opponent for this weekend.
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Game details: Saturday November 16, 2024. Noon Acrisure Stadium (68,400)
Current Odds: Pitt +10 // O/U 54.5 (ESPN)
Television: ESPN — Sean McDonough (play-by-play) Greg McElroy (analyst) Molly McGrath (reporter)
Radio: 93.7 The Fan — Bill Hillgrove (play-by-play), Pat Bostick (analyst), Larry Richert and Dorin Dickerson (reporters)
Opponent: Clemson University (established 1889)
School location: Clemson, South Carolina
Season record: 7-2 (6-1 ACC)
Head Coach: Dabo Swinney, 17th season (177-44)
Last Meeting: October 23, 2021: Pitt 27, Clemson 21
All-Time Series: Pitt leads 3-2
National ranks
Total Offense: Clemson 7th (473.4 ypg) // Pitt 36th (427.8 ypg)
Scoring Offense: Clemson 14th (37.7 ppg) // Pitt 16th (36.7 ppg)
Rushing: Clemson 26th (198.7 ypg) // Pitt 73rd (150.7 ypg)
Passing: Clemson 24th (274.8 ypg) // Pitt 22nd (277.1 ypg)
Total Defense: Clemson 42nd (336.7 ypg) // Pitt 62nd (361.4 ypg)
Scoring Defense: Clemson 50th (22.4 ppg) // Pitt 72nd (25.1 ppg)
Run Defense: Clemson 45th (128.9 ypg) // Pitt 19th (109.8 ypg)
Pass Defense: Clemson 54th (207.8 ypg) // Pitt 113th (251.7 ypg)
About the Tigers: Clemson is in the 17th season of the Dabo Swinney era, and he of course has taken this program to new heights. The Tigers claimed national titles in 2016 and 2018, and played for two more in 2015 and 2019. During his run, Clemson has claimed every ACC Championship from 2015 to the present day except in 2021 (Pitt) and last year (Florida State).
The run of dominance has followed a simple formula, in that, the Tigers recruit better than just about everyone else in the league and that stockpile of talent usually amounts to at least ten wins per season, and oftentimes more. The 2024 team isn't all that different structurally from the ones that had great success in the past.
The Tigers have a talented former five-star quarterback in Cade Klubnik, who has 24 passing touchdowns to just four interceptions. They also boast a powerful running back in Phil Mafah, and the team has several talented pass catchers.
Statistically, the Tigers' defense isn't dominant, but they have a bunch of good players, led by linebackers Barrett Carter and Wade Woodaz, along with a powerful defensive line led by edge TJ Parker.
Clemson opened the year with a 31-point loss to Georgia, before rattling off six wins in a row. Earlier this month, Louisville was able to knock off the Tigers in Death Valley, 33-21, before they rebounded against Virginia Tech last weekend with a win on the road. Holding a 6-1 league record, Saturday marks Clemson's final ACC game of the season, before closing the year with a pair of non-conference game.
STORYLINES
No. 23 Clemson handles Va. Tech in 24-14 win (Tiger Illustrated)
Get-right game (Tiger Illustrated)
The Day After (Tiger Illustrated)
Sunday Night: Swinney on defensive turnaround, Sammy Brown, Elyjah Thurmon (Tiger Illustrated)
Clemson needs to keep answering (Tiger Illustrated)
Making the case (Tiger Illustrated)
How Pittsburgh's starters were ranked as recruits (Tiger Illustarted)
A closer look at Clemson's receiving corps (Tiger Illustrated)
Second half comeback gives Clemson bounce-back win over Virginia Tech (The Tiger)
Clemson vs. Virginia Tech Condensed Game | 2024 ACC Football (ACC Digital Network)
Pitt head coach says Clemson is the best team the Panthers have faced (TigerNet.com)
Clemson record 'special' for Jake Briningstool, who looks to be a role model (TigerNet.com)
NAMES TO KNOW
After some struggles in his first year as a starter, the highly-regarded Cade Klubnik seems to be settling in nicely for Clemson. His 24 touchdowns are more than the 19 he had all of last season. Klubnik has also provided 300 rushing yards and four touchdowns, as his whole game has evolved more this season and he is resembling the five-star recruit he was in high school. He has throw for three or more touchdowns in six of Clemson's games this season.
Phil Mafah has been a factor for the Clemson offense since he was a freshman, but 2024 is certainly his best season to date. He is second in the league in rushing and looks like he will crack the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his career, needing only 19 more yards. Mafah is averaging 6.1 yards per carry, and even at 230 pounds, has shown good burst this season.
Antonio Williams had a promising freshman season back in 2022, but injuries derailed his progress last season. Now that he's back on the field, Williams has returned to being the team's top pass catcher. He has yet to produce a 100-yard game this season, but remains a reliable option for Klubnik.
Former Pitt wide receivers coach Tiquan Underwood spent some time recruiting TJ Moore, who ultimately signed with Clemson. As a true freshman, Moore has worked his way onto the field and given Klubnik a bigger target in the passing game with 23 catches for 389 yards and four touchdowns.
It feels like Pitt has played a talented tight end almost every game this season, and it will be no different on Saturday. Jake Briningstool is second on the team with 35 receptions this season. For his career, the 6'6" Briningstool has 113 receptions for 1,238 yards and 15 scores.
Peter Woods was one of the top recruits in the country two years ago, and has made an impact in his second year at Clemson. Woods is listed at 6-3 and 315 pounds, so he will be a tough pillar to move for the Panthers' offensive line. He has 5.5 TFLs in seven games played this season.
TJ Parker is another talented sophomore for the Clemson defensive line. Parker leads Clemson with five sacks and also has a total of 8.5 TFLs on the season.
Barrett Carter has been an all-ACC and All-American during his time at Clemson. Now in his fourth season, he is one of the leaders of Clemson emotionally as well as for his play on the field. On the season, Carter has 43 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, and three sacks.
Wade Woodaz tops Clemson in tackles with 61 stops on the year. He has also added two interceptions, three forced fumbles, and 6.5 TFLs. Woodaz is a sideline to sideline player who seemingly always finds the ball.
Sammy Brown is proving to be one of the best true freshmen in the country. Brown leads Clemson with nine tackles for loss this season. He had eight tackles and a sack in the Tigers' win over Virginia Tech last week.
