Clemson Football 2010: Breaking Down the Tigers' Schedule

It's never to early to think about the fall. This year's Tiger schedule features seven bowl teams from 2009. Clemson was the only team in America to face four teams ranked in the top 15 a year ago, and this year's schedule won't be any easier. While the Tigers start with two lower-tier opponents, a trip to SEC country in week three sets the tone for the remainder of the year. Can Clemson keep up the momentum it had for much of the previous season? Here's a look at the tests Dabo Swinney's team will face in 2010.

September 4: North Texas

The only justification for putting this game on the schedule is that Clemson travels to Auburn two weeks later. North Texas is a Sun Belt team that beat Ball State and Western Kentucky last year.

This game should allow red shirt freshman Tajh Boyd the opportunity to throw against a defense that isn’t the scout team. Whether or not his role is in relief of Kyle Parker will be the big question.

September 11: Presbyterian

This game boasts historical significance and little else. The late Presbyterian coach Lonnie McMillian originally dubbed Clemson Memorial Stadium “Death Valley.” This was during the era of leather helmets and the wing-T formation.

These two teams haven’t played each other since 1957. Expect the renewal of this rivalry to go the same way the majority of the first meetings went. If nothing else, this will be an opportunity for Dabo Swinney, Kevin Steele, and Billy Napier to evaluate most of the depth chart in a “live fire” drill.

September 18: at Auburn

Here we go. Expect this one end up in prime time network slot. Auburn will be favored, but the beauty of a trip to Jordan-Hare Stadium is that the potential upside of a Clemson win far outweighs the damage that would result from losing to Auburn, especially in a close game.

Gene Chizik’s squad is the up and coming team in the nation’s top conference. Auburn also pulled in a jewel of a recruiting class this year, despite losing running backs Marcus Lattimore to South Carolina and D.J. Howard to Clemson.

Auburn may come into this game a bit more battle—hardened, as they play Mississippi State the Thursday before this one. On the other hand, the Tiger coaching staff has all spring and summer to scout this one out.

October 2: Miami

Overtime, anyone? The Tigers and 'Canes have met three times since Miami joined the ACC and have needed extra frames to settle the score each time. Oddly enough, it has always been the road team that walks away victorious in this series.

In 2010, it will really depend on which Miami team decides to show up. Last year, a young Miami team looked like world-beaters against Georgia Tech and Oklahoma, yet came out completely flat and got embarrassed against Virginia Tech and Wisconsin (bowl game).

If nothing else, Miami has raw speed. Clemson has a vaunted safety combination of DeAndre McDaniel and Rashard Hall. They also will have new starters at corner. How these defensive backs are able to handle that speed will determine this one.

October 9: at North Carolina

Talk about a tough two-game start to a conference schedule. Butch Davis has shown flashes of brilliance in his “resurrection” project in Chapel Hill. Consecutive wins against Virginia Tech, Miami, and Boston College turned around what was a disappointing start to last year.

The Tar Heels will again boast a solid defense that can handle the run. Florida State and NC State proved last year, however, that you can throw quick outs and be effective against that same defense.

Ball control and limiting turnovers will be the key to this game. North Carolina’s offense can best be described as anemic. T.J. Yates has yet to live up to his billing.

North Carolina has been effective when they can run the ball inside the tackles. That should have Tiger DTs Brandon Thompson and Jarvis Jenkins licking their chops.

October 16: Maryland

In this day and age, it is simply unacceptable for a Clemson team to lose to Maryland. Yet the Terrapins somehow hold a two game winning streak in this series. One aspect of having a successful program is simply beating the teams you’re supposed to beat, on a consistent basis.

Despite Ralph Friedgen’s early success in College Park, this Maryland team simply lacks the talent to put together a solid season in ACC play. If they were to win three games in conference this year, it would cause a great deal of surprise. If they were to beat Clemson in Death Valley this October, the shock wave could destroy an entire season.

October 23: Georgia Tech

This game might just be the first one circled on the schedule in Coach Swinney’s office. Georgia Tech has a four game win streak in the series, including two thrillers in 2009.

The 2010 edition of the Ramblin’ Wreck looks to be a whole lot less intimidating than last year's, which featured Chan Gailey’s recruits in their second year of running the triple option. Georgia Tech is losing juniors Derrick Morgan, Morgan Burnett, Jonathan Dwyer, and Demariyus Thomas to the draft. Quarterback Josh Nesbit will return, but will probably have to shoulder even more of the load in the ground game. As if he hadn’t done enough for the last two years!

Paul Johnson's offensive scheme is probably the reason their recruiting took a big hit this year. While preparing for this look drives defensive coordinators nuts, the Jackets just don’t have the weapons they had a year ago. Games in the I-85 series are always close, but expect Dabo and Clemson to snap the skid here.

October 30: at Boston College

The 2009 edition of this game was the best defensive display of the season for Clemson. It had to be, as this was well before the Tiger offense got on track. Boston College was held to 55 yards of total offense in a 25-7 win.

Boston College’s recruiting seems to suggest they are beginning a slide towards mediocrity in the ACC. Still, they are tough in Chestnut Hill, and this will be Clemson’s first game playing on anything other than grass. This too should be a Tiger victory, but don’t forget what ACC seems to stand for. These days, it’s the “Anything Can Conference.”

November 6: NC State

One of two things can happen in Raleigh this year. This could be the year that Tom O’Brien can turn it around and get NC State back to prominence within the conference.

Or, this could be the year that he has to start updating his resume. The keystone to the season could well be Russell Wilson and his impending decision on pro baseball or another season as the Wolfpack’s quarterback.

Other than Wilson, NC State is loaded at wide receiver. There very few other bright spots for the Pack. Their signature win a year ago (Pittsburgh) was wiped out by losses to Duke, Wake Forest, and Boston College. The win over in-state rival North Carolina took place well after they were out of bowl contention. By the time NC State gets to Clemson next year, it will be clear what kind of future Tom O’Brien is looking at.

November 13: at Florida State

This one could really be trouble. There was turmoil in Tallahassee last year, but there has never been a time in the recent past where Florida State didn’t have athletes on their team.

Jimbo Fisher is clearly running the show this year. The Seminoles also just pulled a tremendous recruiting class that was the best in the ACC. Clemson can only point to two times (1989 and 2006) where they have won in Doak Campbell, which is the most intimidating venue in the conference to visit.

Outside of Washington’s Jake Locker, Florida State’s Christian Ponder may well be the top quarterback in the 2010 senior class. This showdown may well determine which Atlantic Division team will visit Charlotte for the ACC Championship in early December. One thing is for certain, this late season matchup will be a battle for the Tigers.

November 20: at Wake Forest

It was a good run for Jim Grobe and the Demon Deacons. They won an ACC championship in 2006. They won games they weren’t supposed to win and had the program at a level it had never reached or sustained before. Now it’s time to return to earth.

The talent that took Wake to the Orange Bowl is gone, and the recruiting classes that followed their conference title season have been lackluster at best. After Maryland, Wake Forest is the team that Clemson is not supposed to lose to.

This is a team that is capable of scaring someone at best (Miami in 2009). They shouldn't be up to the task of beating a focused Clemson squad in anything close to late season form.

November 27: South Carolina

Wins for the Gamecocks in the modern era of this series have been few and far between, but it was Carolina who took care of business in the last meeting.

Not only did Carolina win in November, they thoroughly demolished the Tigers on both sides of the ball. That game was in Columbia, the 2010 version will be in front of 83,000 orange clad fans intent on revenge.

Clemson coaches establish their legacy on how they beat South Carolina. Coach Swinney has now seen both sides of the coin. Whether or not Clemson has a game in Charlotte the week after the Battle for the Palmetto State next year, you can expect a focused group of Tigers.

South Carolina may just have found a true, dominant running back when they were able to prize Marcus Lattimore away from Auburn and the rest of the free world. The Gamecocks have talent but will be fighting history and the “Chicken Curse” when they come to Death Valley to end the regular season.

It’s been awhile since Carolina has beaten Clemson in consecutive years. Nevertheless, this is as true of a rivalry game as you will find in college football. Better buy your tickets now.