Three things to watch: Charleston Southern at Clemson

No. 25 Clemson (0-1) will host Charleston Southern (FCS) in their home opener. Here's what to watch out for.

Saturday will be a test for the No. 25 Clemson Tigers. A massive favorite against FCS opponent Charleston Southern, Clemson's test won't be on the scoreboard, but rather in the emotions. Week 1's loss to Duke was just five days ago. A short week to recover and prepare was an added layer to the challenge presented to this team.

If the Tigers are to still achieve their goals - ACC Championship and CFP appearance - there's no more room for steps backward. The margin for error is nill. Clemson must get dialed in and it starts this Saturday at a rainy Memorial Stadium. Here's what to watch for.

Clemson Athletics

Can the offense find a rhythm?

Turnovers and missed field goals were the main factor in Clemson's loss at Duke but they certainly weren't the only reasons. While the Tigers moved the ball, the was no flow to the offense. Everything felt forced and clunky. OC Garrett Riley tried to push the tempo but it never felt like a threat because the unit was never on the same page. If anything, it felt like a disadvantage when Clemson went fast. Charleston Southern represents a great opportunity to work on that, but thunderstorms in the area could slow down the progress.

Redzone woes.

Clemson has struggled mightily when they've made it into opponents' territory over the past two games. When the field gets short, things get tough. It'll be interesting to see how Garrett Riley approaches getting the ball into the endzone. TE Jake Briningstool seems like a great option.

Emotion.

The team fell flat in week one after an offseason of hype and optimism. Now they return to Death Valley for their home opener. How will the Clemson fanbase respond? The rest of the country has buried the Tigers. On a rainy afternoon, will the Clemson crowd prove they haven't, too? At the same time, will the team be able to respond with and prove they're locked in?

How to Watch Charleston Southern at Clemson

• Note: Due to an ongoing dispute between Disney and Spectrum, ESPN and ABC are not currently available to Spectrum customers. Therefore Clemson fans with Spectrum will not be able to watch Monday's Clemson-Duke game. YouTube TV, Hulu, and a plethora of other services will be airing the game.
• Gameday: Saturday, September 9th
• Game time: 2:15 pm ET
• TV: ACCN
• Location: Memorial Stadium (Clemson, SC)
• Stream on ESPN - HERE
• Commentators: Drew Carter, Dustin Fox, Alex Chappell
• Listen: ClemsonTigers.com