CLEMSON – The curtains are closing on the Clemson Tigers 2023 regular season, but a heavy-hitting rivalry game still awaits.
For what should be a sold-out crowd in Williams Brice Stadium, Clemson enters with a chance to end South Carolina’s season just one game short of bowl eligibility. It won’t be easy though, and here’s three key questions that the Tigers must answer to win.
Can Clemson contain Rattler?
If the game against North Carolina was any indication, Clemson may have a lot of trouble with Spencer Rattler. The numbers may not show it on the ground, but he’s a slippery quarterback that uses his legs to create as a rusher and passer.
Drake Maye rushed for 67 yard against the Tigers and that’s accounting for the four sacks. That can’t happen this week, or else Clemson could be looking at another road loss. Speaking of…
Will the Tigers end their road woes?
It’s been some bad days at the office when Clemson goes on the road in 2023. Now 1-3 away from Death Valley, this is the most hostile environment they’ll see during the season.
The previous three losses were against conference opponents and the broken record continued to be self-inflicted mistakes. This started with the goal line fumbles against Duke, failed execution against Miami before disaster at NC State.
Something’s gotta give, and the Tigers must exorcise their demons if there’s any hope of getting a win.
Will Clemson bring the fire?
Identity is a massive concept in football, and Clemson’s found it in the last three weeks. Now it’s just a matter of if that same energy can be harnessed against the Gamecocks.
All week, we heard from players about the importance of this game and everyone knows. The product has to match the talk and it would be a perfect closing to the season if the Tigers can head down and handle business.
Fast starts are everything on the road, and Clemson needs one Saturday. The Tigers take on South Carolina at 7 p.m., televised on SEC Network.
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