CLEMSON – Mario Cristobal needs to set Miami at the top of the ACC, where by Clemson presently is. He will get his first chance as Hurricanes coach to see the ninth-ranked Tigers up shut – and how considerably they’ll have to vacation to get there – this weekend.
Clemson (9-1, 7- Atlantic Coast Convention) hosts Miami (5-5, 3-3) on Saturday as it tries to complete off a fourth fantastic standard season in league engage in since 2015. The Tigers are returning to the ACC title sport future month for the seventh time in eight seasons, a run of dominance that harkens back again to Cristobal’s days as a player at “The U,” when he was aspect of nationwide championship teams in 1989 and 1991.
Cristobal was an assistant at Nick Saban’s Alabama when the Crimson Tide break up a pair of nationwide championship game titles with the Tigers – Alabama profitable just after the 2015 time and Clemson the rematch a calendar year later.
“I’ve found them up near and personal as an assistant coach at the University of Alabama,” Cristobal stated. “And when those people two groups played, it’s nearly like mirror images of just about every other. So, culture absolutely exhibits up and not in only caliber of perform but making performs, the way you play the match, and they engage in the recreation the proper way.”
Miami wasn’t far too significantly off from Clemson in the rankings when the season started, shifting up to 13th after starting up 2-. A few consecutive losses have left the Hurricanes needing a victory over the ultimate two months to access a bowl match.
Clemson defensive deal with Ruke Orhorhoro claimed the Tigers will not take Miami evenly due to the fact of its so-so period. Beating Louisville 31-16 final 7 days was a gratifying bounce-back from Clemson’s only decline, 35-14, at Notre Dame on Nov. 5.
Very little, Orhorhoro states, is confirmed without having placing in the function at apply and owning the suitable state of mind all 7 days.
“It is school football,” he reported. “Anyone can defeat any individual on any presented working day.”
WHAT A Run
Clemson is chasing its 40th straight property win, extending its ACC file set previously this calendar year. The Tigers have not misplaced at Loss of life Valley given that Nov. 12, 2016, when Pittsburgh defeated No. 3 Clemson 43-42 on a final-next field goal. A get above Miami would tie the Tigers with Notre Dame’s 40 straight at property from 1907-18.
QB Swap?
Every single sign is that Jacurri Brown, who commenced at quarterback in Miami’s get around Ga Tech past weekend, is in line to get the simply call yet again Saturday. Commencing quarterback Tyler Van Dyke is trying to get back on the discipline this period, but an injury in the shoulder space has previously knocked him from the lineup two times and his status remains a thriller.
CLEMSON QB
Clemson has experienced its personal quarterback concerns this period. Even so, starter DJ Uiagalelei had a strong demonstrating (he threw for a rating and ran for a next) in the victory over Louisville final 7 days. Mentor Dabo Swinney and offensive coordinator Brandon Streeter have talked about getting enjoying time for backup Cade Klubnik, who performed a person sequence in the fourth quarter with Clemson ahead 24-10.
HURRICANE WARNING
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney mentioned Miami has the items to get again in the thick of big time higher education football. The Hurricanes’ only ACC Coastal title arrived in 2017 when they misplaced the championship recreation to Clemson, 38-3.
In Cristobal’s initial yr, Swinney’s sees top rated-line recruiting and an athletic director who appreciates what it can take to thrive in Dan Radakovich (Clemson’s Ad from 2012-2021).
“You see the development of what they are making an attempt to construct,” Swinney claimed of Miami.
TWO TO GO
Clemson is 34-14 all time towards ACC Coastal opponents. Immediately after Miami, the Tigers have a person far more Coastal workforce remaining in division champion North Carolina in the league title recreation next month. The ACC will scrap divisions for the 2023 period. Miami is 19-23 towards ACC Atlantic groups with only Clemson remaining.
