When No. 9 Clemson and No. 23 North Carolina meet within the ACC Championship Sport on Saturday in Charlotte, North Carolina,   it will likely be a rematch of the 2015 convention title sport that kick-started the Tigers’ run of six consecutive journeys to the School Soccer Playoff. Whereas this yr’s showdown will not carry CFP implications for both group, it stays a key pivot level for 2 packages in two totally different locations within the ACC panorama. Clemson desires to carry the ACC title residence for a seventh time in eight years after seeing will get run get snapped in 2021, whereas North Carolina is hoping to win the varsity’s first ACC soccer championship since 1980. 

Clemson has dominated the general collection between these two ACC founding members, holding a 38-19-1 benefit and at present using a four-game successful streak that features that 2015 ACC title sport. Dabo Swinney is 4-1 in opposition to the Tar Heels, dropping his first matchup in Chapel Hill in 2010 however successful the following 4 and placing up 45 factors or extra in three of these 4 wins. The outlier was the 21-20 thriller in 2019 that noticed Mack Brown, then in his first yr again as North Carolina head coach, go for a two-point conversion that failed late within the fourth quarter in opposition to then-No. 1 Clemson.  

The Charlotte-based title sport is a straightforward drive for each fan bases, so the stadium ought to present loads of pop for a convention championship that’s extra about program pleasure than playoff implications. Lets get into what you have to know for the matchup.  

Clemson vs. North Carolina: Must know

Tigers playoff hopes dashed by a rival in streak snapping vogue: Clemson had a path to the playoff as a one-loss convention champion till it fell to rival South Carolina on the ultimate week of the common season to drop to 10-2 on the yr. The loss additionally snapped this system’s 40-game residence successful streak, which had lasted so lengthy that no member of the present roster had even skilled a defeat in Loss of life Valley. Taking part in for the ACC Championship represents an opportunity to shortly transfer previous that disappointment and deal with having a trophy to point out for the group’s efforts to re-establish Clemson’s place amongst its friends within the league. 

Tar Heels getting into off back-to-back losses: North Carolina additionally enters the sport hoping to maneuver previous current setbacks on the sphere, having misplaced back-to-back residence video games to Georgia Tech and rival NC State by a mixed seven factors to shut out the common season. A number of extra performs within the different course within the final two weeks and the Tar Heels, at present with a 9-3 report, may have been amongst these groups wanting so as to add some chaos to the playoff image on Saturday. As an alternative the stakes are fully on successful the convention, which does nonetheless resonate given this system’s 42-year ACC title drought.

Drake Maye picks up ACC Participant of the Yr honors: Although many realized North Carolina had a proficient quarterback prospect in Drake Maye, few may foresee the redshirt freshman taking faculty soccer by storm the way in which he has in 2022. This week Maye turned simply the second freshman in ACC historical past to be named the convention’s participant of the yr, becoming a member of Jameis Winston from the 2013 marketing campaign that noticed him win a Heisman Trophy and Florida State win a nationwide championship. The four-award sweep of ACC Participant of the Yr, ACC Offensive Participant of the Yr, ACC Rookie of the Yr and ACC Offensive Rookie of the Yr makes him among the many most adorned Tar Heels in program historical past, and his 3,847 passing yards are already a brand new single-season faculty report. The quarterback energy within the ACC was well-documented coming into the season, however nobody had zeroed in a single Maye having not simply the very best season within the convention however top-of-the-line seasons of any participant in the whole nation. Saturday evening’s take a look at in opposition to a stout Clemson protection will probably be a fantastic likelihood for Maye to ship on a giant stage, and doubtlessly add an MVP award to this busy week of accolades. 

How one can watch Clemson vs. North Carolina stay

Date: Saturday, Dec. 3 | Time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: Financial institution of America Stadium — Charlotte, North Carolina
TV: ABC | Reside stream: fuboTV (Strive without spending a dime)

Clemson vs. North Carolina prediction, picks

Clemson is the higher group, however the door is open for an upset in a means that we’ve not seen in a very long time on the subject of these convention championship showdowns in opposition to the Coastal Division. North Carolina has some damage issues and its been removed from a constant group this season, nevertheless it has a market edge at quarterback and needs to be enjoying with significantly much less stress given the preseason expectations. Prediction: North Carolina +7.5

Which faculty soccer picks are you able to make with confidence throughout Championship Week, and which large favorites will get a scare? Go to SportsLine to see which groups will win and canopy the unfold — all from a confirmed laptop mannequin that has returned virtually $2,500 in revenue over the previous six-plus seasons — and discover out.