Clemson Spring Game 2016: Date, Start Time, Schedule, Live Stream and More

Defense takes center stage at this year's Orange & White Game.

"Clemsoning" is dead. The Clemson Tigers gave the Alabama Crimson Tide all they could handle in the title game and get key contributors on the offensive side of the ball back, highlighted by Heisman Trophy contender Deshaun Watson under center.

In a spring game perhaps ready to break records, the Tigers will look to ease new starters into spots on the defensive side of the ball to round out what could once again be one of the nation's most well-rounded rosters.

Here's everything to know about the must-see event.

2016 Clemson Spring Game

When:  Saturday, April 9, at 2:30 p.m. ET

Where: Memorial Stadium

TV: N/A

Live Stream: WatchESPN

Folks know what to expect from a Clemson spring game—traditional rules and a major turnout.

This time, as usual, a normal clock monitors the proceedings until the second possession of the third quarter, where a running clock gets implemented to speed things along.

Orange and White shared the roster split for the event:

For head coach Dabo Swinney, Saturday is a chance to get his younger guys in front of a major crowd, a factor that will really help the coaching staff slot in the best possible players at positions of need.

Swinney spoke with the Independent Mail about his expectations:

"

I really want to challenge our crowd and our fans to show up. If we can have 30,000 people show up for a pizza party, we ought to have 50,000 show up, at least, for a spring game. A lot of new guys, new faces, so I really want to challenge our fan base to come and enjoy a great day at Clemson.

"

Rest assured, fans have every reason to help Swinney hit the goals. 

Fresh off a season in which he threw for 4,104 yards and 35 touchdowns, and added another 1,105 yards and 12 scores on the ground, Watson will orchestrate an offense getting most of its notable weapons back for another go at a title tilt, including leading wideout Mike Williams after a scary neck injury last year.

Starters won't stay on the field too long, of course, but when the depth of the team is so important, fans should want to see the younger future playmakers, too.

Really, though, this one is all about defense. The Tigers lost a laundry list of contributors, including lineman Kevin Dodd and defensive backs Mackensie Alexander, Jayron Kearse and T.J. Green, among many others.

Clemson boasts big names to replace the big names, too. One focal point is defensive lineman Christian Wilkins, who continues to flash in practice at every spot along the line. Wilkins' new partner in crime, freshman tackle Dexter Lawrence, gets even more hype, even from his own teammate, as the Post & Courier's Aaron Brenner captured:

New faces line the linebacking corps, too, with Tre Lamar and Shaq Smith fighting over a starting gig.

In the secondary, Mark Fields, Van Smith and many others will compete for the right to play with Cordrea Tankersley.

As Brenner noted, the new-look secondary attempted to learn from its past mistakes:

It all comes to a head Saturday, when the defense has to face not only one of the nation's most potent set of offensive weapons, but do so in front of what might be one of the biggest crowds ever to grace a Clemson spring game.

Times have changed around the Orange & White Game. Clemson isn't working its way back from a wildly disappointing finish to the season this time around, but attempting to one-up itself and get back on the hunt for a College Football Playoff berth.

Easier said than done, but these Tigers aren't strangers in the face of adversity ahead of a spring game.

Stats and info courtesy of ESPN.com unless otherwise specified. Broadcast and spring game info via ClemsonTigers.com.