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The Match-Up:
Clemson (1-3, 0-2 ACC) vs. North Carolina (2-2, 0-0 ACC)
The Tigers travel to Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill looking to snap out of early-season struggles. This game marks the 61st meeting between the schools, with Clemson holding a 40-19-1 all-time edge. Clemson has won six straight in the series, most recently a 31-20 victory in 2023. The Tigers, however, limp into this matchup after a 34-21 home loss to Syracuse.
Kickoff:
Saturday, Oct. 4, 12:00
TV: ESPN
Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill, N.C.
Storylines:
Two of the preeminent coaching figures of the last two decades will lead their teams against one another on Saturday as multi-time national champion Dabo Swinney leads the Tigers against multi-time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick and North Carolina.
Belichick enters the game with eight Super Bowl rings (six as a head coach and two as an assistant) and Swinney enters the game with two national championship rings (plus an additional national championship as a player) and nine ACC title rings.
Prior to Saturday’s game, there have been eight games all-time between one head coach with at least one Super Bowl title as a head coach and another head coach with at least one FBS national championship as a head coach. All eight of those contests featured Walsh’s Stanford Cardinal from 1992-94.
Saturday’s game will represent only the second time in college football history a coach with multiple FBS national championships as a head coach will face another with multiple Super Bowl titles as a head coach. Walsh, a three-time Super Bowl champion with the San Francisco 49ers, led Stanford against two-time national champion Joe Paterno and Penn State in the Blockbuster Bowl on New Year’s Day in 1993.
Series History:
Clemson leads the all-time series 40-19-1. The Tigers are 20-7 at home, 16-11-1 on the road, and 4-1 at neutral sites. Clemson has won six straight in the series dating back to 2011.
Swanny’s Rant & Reality Check:
“This one comes down to execution. Clemson has spent four weeks shooting itself in the foot. Enough is enough. Give Klubnik two drives — if it’s not clicking, let’s see what Christopher Vizzina can do. You can’t waste another Saturday waiting on something that may never come. The defense has a golden opportunity against Max Johnson, a stationary quarterback. Bring the heat, force mistakes, and take control. Clemson’s margin for error is gone.”
Keys to Victory:
Play Clean and Confident on Offense: Klubnik gets the first two opening series, but the leash has to be short. Vizzina is waiting in the wings, and while he may not be as polished, Clemson must find a QB who can hit the layups. Ball security and rhythm are critical after weeks of inconsistency.
Some people don’t think the Tigers trust Vizzina to get the job done, but at some point, you have to rip off the Band-Aid if Klubnik continues to have issues finding open wideouts.
Blitz Max Johnson Relentlessly: UNC’s quarterback is not a threat with his legs. The Tigers’ front seven should dial up pressure to force turnovers and shorten the field for a struggling offense. Wade Woodaz, T.J. Parker, and Sammy Brown need to live in the backfield.
The frustrating part is that the entire defense has yet to take over a game. Time and time again, the Tigers look like they are going through the motions. That’s not good enough, and it’s unheard of under Dabo Swinney.
Establish a Two-Back Attack: Adam Randall and freshman Gideon Davidson give Clemson a physical and dynamic combo. Leaning on both backs can steady the offense and finally give balance. The Tigers have nothing to lose — it’s time to push the envelope and get the youngster some carries as well.
Prediction:
Clemson’s desperation should be enough to spark a response. In addition to that, the Tar Heels just aren’t a very good team. Honestly, the only team Clemson has faced worse than UNC is Troy.
My guess is that the Tigers get their seventh straight win over North Carolina by playing aggressive defense and finally leaning into their ground game.
The Pick: Clemson 28-10
Season Record: 1-3
Swanny’s Predictions:
Date Matchup Swanny’s Prediction Actual Score ✅ or ❌
8-30-2025 No. 4 Clemson vs. No. 9 LSU 30-24 Clemson 17-10 LSU ❌
9-6-2025 No. 8 Clemson vs. Troy 41-14 Clemson 27-16 Clemson ✅
9-13-2025 No. 12 Clemson at Georgia Tech 31-23 Clemson 24-21 Georgia Tech ❌
9-20-2025 Clemson vs. Syracuse 31-17 Clemson 34-21 Syracuse ❌
10-4-2025 Clemson at North Carolina 28-10 Clemson ?? ??
10-11-2025 Clemson at Boston College ?? ?? ??
10-18-2025 Clemson vs. SMU ?? ?? ??
11-1-2025 Clemson vs. Duke ?? ?? ??
11-8-2025 Clemson vs. Florida State ?? ?? ??
11-14-2025 Clemson at Louisville ?? ?? ??
11-22-2025 Clemson vs. Furman ?? ?? ??
11-29-2025 Clemson at South Carolina ?? ?? ??
✅ = Correct Prediction
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