Clemson Heads West
Clemson is heading across the country for one of its most interesting games of the young season as the Tigers travel to Berkeley to take on California.
The Tigers enter the matchup 2-1 overall and 1-0 in ACC play after bouncing back from their ugly season-opening loss to LSU with consecutive victories over Georgia Southern and North Carolina. Now, Clemson will face a Cal team that has the home-field advantage and plenty of motivation in its own ACC opener.
The game is set for Friday night and will be Clemson’s first road conference game of the season.
Tigers Looking for Another Step Forward
Clemson’s season has been anything but straightforward.
The Tigers were blown out 51-10 by LSU in the opener, raising plenty of questions about the offense and the direction of the program. Since then, however, Clemson has responded with wins over Georgia Southern and North Carolina.
The victory over UNC was particularly important. Clemson overcame a 20-14 halftime deficit to win 28-20, showing the ability to fight through adversity and finish a conference game.
Quarterback play will once again be one of the biggest storylines. Clemson has used both Christopher Vizzina and Tait Reynolds this season, with Reynolds seeing significant action against Georgia Southern. Vizzina connected with T.J. Moore for a touchdown in that victory, while Moore finished with seven catches for 103 yards.
Cal Presents a Different Challenge
Cal will be Clemson’s first ACC opponent outside the Eastern time zone this season, and the unusual Friday-night kickoff adds another challenge.
The Bears will have the advantage of playing at California Memorial Stadium, while Clemson must deal with the long trip from South Carolina to the West Coast.
For Clemson, establishing the running game and protecting the football will be critical. The Tigers cannot afford to give Cal extra possessions, particularly on the road.
Defensively, Clemson will also need to continue the improvement it has shown since the LSU game. The Tigers held Georgia Southern to only seven points before allowing 20 to North Carolina.
A Chance to Make a Statement
This game could be an important early checkpoint for Clemson.
After the disastrous start against LSU, the Tigers have won two straight and have an opportunity to begin ACC play 2-0. A road victory over Cal would give Clemson another chance to show that the season-opening loss does not define this team.
The challenge will be handling the environment, limiting mistakes and finding enough offensive consistency to keep pace.
With Miami waiting at home next week, Clemson cannot afford to overlook Cal. The Tigers have already experienced one major setback this season. Friday night gives them another opportunity to prove they are moving in the right direction.
For Clemson, this is more than just another conference game. It is a chance to show how far the Tigers have come since that difficult night in Baton Rouge.
