Notre Dame Opponent Preview: Clemson Tigers

A look at the next Notre Dame opponent, the 4-4 Clemson Tigers

Notre Dame (7-2) will look to build on its current two-game winning streak this weekend when it heads south to take on the struggling Clemson Tigers (4-4). Despite its two-game losing streak and overall struggles, Clemson is going to be a tough challenge for the Irish.

Where: Memorial Stadium (Clemson, S.C.)
When: Saturday - November 4th
Time: 12:00 PM ET
Network: ABC
Line: Notre Dame -3.0, O/U: 45

Let's take a first glance look at the Tigers.

HEAD COACH - Dabo Swinney

Record: 165-43 (16th season)

Swinney began his career at Clemson back in 2003 when he was hired by then head coach Tommy Bowden as the team's wide receivers coach. The Alabama native spent the next five years in that role, but in 2008 Bowden resigned during the season and Swinney was named the interim coach. After losing the next game, Clemson finished 4-2 and Swinney was named the full-time head coach.

Clemson had a solid first season under Swinney, going 9-5 and beating Kentucky in the Music City bowl. The Tigers took a step back in 2010, going just 6-7, but things started to turn around in 2011. Clemson won its first eight games and climbed all the way up to No. 6 in the polls before losing four of the last six, including a 70-33 loss to West Virginia in the Orange Bowl.

Swinney made changes within the program, including hiring a new defensive coordinator, and that began Clemson rising to the top of the college football world. Clemson went 11-2 the next season and finished the campaign with a 25-24 win over LSU in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl. The next season the Tigers again went 11-2, this time beating Ohio State in the Orange Bowl to end the season.

Injuries stunted that growth a bit, with Clemson going just 10-3 the next season (2014), but the Tigers finally got a win over Steve Spurrier and South Carolina (who had won five straight in the rivalry), and the finished the season with a 40-6 bowl win over Oklahoma.

Over the next six seasons, Swinney led Clemson to a 79-7 record that included a pair of National Championships (2016, 2018), two more trips to the national title game (2015, 2019), and two other trips to the College Football Playoff (2017, 2020). Clemson won eight ACC championships under Swinney, who led Clemson to 10+ victories in 12 straight seasons.

Offensive Coordinator: Garrett Riley (1st season)
Co-Defensive Coordinator: Wes Goodwin (2nd season)
Co-Defensive Coordinator: Mickey Conn (2nd season)

2023 SCHEDULE/RESULTS (4-4)

2023 STATISTICAL OVERVIEW

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Rushing: RB Will Shipley - 112 att., 525 yards, 4.7 YPC, 3 TD; RB Phil Mafah - 73 att., 439 yards, 6.0 YPC, 6 TD; QB Cade Klubnik - 78 att., 77 yards, 1.0 YPC, 3 TD; RB Domonique Thomas - 11 att., 74 yards, 6.7 YPC, 1 TD

Passing: QB Cade Klubnik - 188-294, 63.9%, 1,947 yards, 13 TD, 5 INT, 130.76 rating

Receiving: WR Beaux Collins - 30 rec., 408 yards, 13.6 YPC, 2 TD; WR Tyler Brown - 32 rec., 397 yards, 12.4 YPC, 2 TD; TE Jake Briningstool - 31 rec., 344 yards, 11.1 YPC, 3 TD; WR Troy Stellato - 25 rec., 202 yards, 8.1 YPC, 1 TD; WR Antonio Williams - 17 rec., 192 yards, 11.3 YPC, 2 TD, WR Adam Randall - 11 rec., 135 yards, 12.3 YPC, 0 TD

Tackles: LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr. - 54; LB Barrett Carter - 43; S RJ Mickens - 32; S Andrew Mukuba - 27; S Jalyn Phillips - 25; DT Tyler Davis - 25; CB Sheridan Jones - 23; DE TJ Parker - 23; DE Xavier Thomas - 17; LB Wade Woodaz - 17

Tackles For Loss: DE TJ Parker - 8.5; LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr - 8.5; LB Barrett Carter - 6.5; DT Ruke Orhorhoro - 5.5; LB Wade Woodaz - 4.0; DE Justin Mascoll - 3.0; DE Xavier Thomas - 3.0; DT Tyler Davis - 3.0 

Sacks: DE TJ Parker - 4.0; DT Ruke Orhorhoro - 3.0; LB Wade Woodaz - 3.0; DE Xavier Thomas - 2.0; LB Barrett Carter - 2.0

Interceptions: LB Wade Woodaz - 2; Four players tied with 1

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Irish Breakdown Content

2023 Scholarship Chart
2023 Football Schedule

Notre Dame 2024 Scholarship Offers

2024 Commit Rankings - Offense
2024 Commit Rankings - Defense

2023 Recruiting Class Grades - Offense
2023 Recruiting Class Grades - Defense

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