Clemson’s spring apply window culminates this Saturday with this system’s annual spring soccer recreation, offering an intriguing peek at a staff with excessive hopes in 2024. The Tigers try to make it again to the highest of the ACC mountain after ending tied for sixth within the convention final 12 months.
It was a disappointing outcome for coach Dabo Swinney, who misplaced 4 video games for the primary time since 2011 and completed along with his worst win whole as a head coach since 2010. On prime of its ACC aspirations, Clemson can be aiming to reintroduce itself on the nationwide stage amid a Faculty Soccer Playoff dry streak.
As soon as a mainstay within the nationwide championship image with six straight playoff appearances from 2015-20, Clemson is happening 4 years with a CFP berth. However now that the sphere has expanded to 12 groups, the barrier to entry has lowered tremendously. If Clemson can win the ACC for a second time in three years, it can earn an computerized bid.
Earlier than Clemson may even take into consideration the ACC championship, Faculty Soccer Playoff berth and even stepping foot on the sphere for its common season opener, it has to get by way of spring apply. This is how one can watch Clemson’s spring recreation and a few storylines to observe because the 2024 Tigers give followers a take a look at what to anticipate this coming season.
The best way to watch 2024 Clemson spring recreation reside
Date: Saturday, April 6 | Time: 1 p.m. ET
Location: Memorial Stadium — Clemson, South Carolina
Stay Stream: ACC Community Additional
2024 Clemson spring recreation storylines
1. Can the offense take a step ahead? The pairing of offensive coordinator Garrett Riley — who coached up a Heisman Trophy finalist and contributed to a Faculty Soccer Playoff Nationwide Championship run at TCU in 2022 — and former five-star quarterback Cade Klubnik created appreciable hype for Clemson’s offense in 2023. It shortly petered out after the Tigers scored simply seven factors in a season-opening loss to Duke and evaporated fully because the Tigers limped by way of a season that noticed them rating 20 or fewer factors on 5 separate events. With a 12 months of expertise working collectively, there’s some hope that Riley can lastly unlock Klubnik’s potential to energise the offense. From total operation to potential new wrinkles, there’s loads to observe on this entrance within the spring recreation.
2. Who steps up at extensive receiver? It isn’t honest to pin Clemson’s offensive struggles on one participant, or one place for that matter, however it does not assist that the Tigers lack in standout extensive receivers. Gone are the times when Clemson may flip to such current stalwarts as Tee Higgins and Hunter Renfrow. Clemson did not have a single receiver eclipse 600 yards final season and Beaux Collins, one among two receivers to hit at the least 500 yards, transferred to Notre Dame. Given Swinney’s staunch refusal to completely make the most of the switch portal, Clemson has to depend on its in-house choices to step their recreation up. Tyler Adams appears like a breakout candidate, and Clemson will profit from having Antonio Williams wholesome for a whole season. Swinney and Co. additionally signed a stable group of highschool extensive receivers, headlined by five-star prospect TJ Moore and fellow top-100 standout Bryant Wesco. They’re going to have loads of alternative to see the sphere early.
3. How does the offensive line look? Clemson’s spring recreation will present an enormous check for the offensive line, because it has to go in opposition to a defensive entrance that — regardless of some notable losses — is completely stacked with expertise. The Tigers are poised to dominate the road of scrimmage when the protection is on the sphere, however there’s work to be finished on the alternative aspect of the ball. Even Swinney admitted within the offseason that Clemson combed the switch portal for offensive line assist , although the Tigers have been unable to land any targets. That being stated, Clemson does return seven offensive linemen with beginning expertise for brand spanking new coach Matt Luke to deliver alongside, however the important thing in spring is determining how these items match and which 5 emerge as constant starters.
