Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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44 NOV. 7, 2020 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED played in five of Clemson's first six games and com- pleted 12 of 19 throws for 102 yards while contributing two rushing touchdowns in mop-up duty. Against BC, he completed 30 of 41 passes for two touchdowns and no in- terceptions. He also added a 30-yard rushing touchdown, while directing the largest home comeback in school history. Whoever is at quarterback will have a pressure-reliever in senior running back Tra- vis Etienne, who surprised many by passing on the NFL for one more college season. Through six contests, he had 522 yards on 6.3 yards per carry (which, remarkably, would be a career worst) with eight touchdowns on the ground. He's also second on the team with 22 catches for 294 yards and one score. There are a few spots with a drop-off, but going from all world to still elite is a heck of a problem to have. Clemson's yards per carry is down to 4.61 from a nation-best 6.37 a year ago. The Tigers can point to four new starters on the offensive line as an explanation. Their 3.7 percent sack rate, though, is largely unchanged from the 2019 level (3.6 percent). The most noticeable change is wide receiver, where Clemson has some weapons but is still searching for an established one-on-one winner. Senior Amari Rodgers, a slot receiver, has become the go-to target. He's 5-10 and a yards-after-catch threat, but he also has five catches on throws at least 20 yards downfield. "He can actually go and stretch the field because he has the speed," Clem- son offensive coordinator Tony Elliott said. "But then has the ability to go up and high-point the ball." DEFENSE STILL STOUT Absences and availabil- ity questions have hit the defense, too. Clemson will try to halt Notre Dame's of- fense without senior middle linebacker James Skalski, the defensive leader who likely won't play at Notre Dame due to a groin injury. Re- placement Jake Venables, a redshirt sophomore and the team's second-leading tack- ler, made Skalski's absence a non-issue against Syracuse. On a defense full of five- star recruits, a former two- star may be its most impor- tant piece. Fifth-year senior safety Nolan Turner sealed Clemson's Fiesta Bowl win last season by intercepting Ohio State's Justin Fields and already has three picks this year, along with 2.5 tackles for loss. He also was fifth on the team in total tackles (20) after six contests. "There's no question he deserves more attention nationally," Swinney said. "He is as good a safety as we have had come through here in my 18 years at Clemson." The last Clemson defensive front Notre Dame tried to block had three first-round picks on it. This iteration features more of a rotation, but also more of the same top-end talent. There are five former five-star de- fensive linemen who play meaning- ful snaps up front, including the top- ranked player in the 2020 class, Bryan Bresee. Tyler Davis, a second-team All-ACC selection as a freshman last year, has played only three games due to multiple injury issues. ✦ GAME PREVIEW: CLEMSON Fifth-year senior safety Nolan Turner, who had a team-high three intercep- tions through six games, is an underrated standout on defense for top-ranked Clemson. PHOTO BY KEN RUINARD, USA TODAY SPORTS 2020 CLEMSON SCHEDULE Date Opponent (TV) Result/Time (ET) Sept. 12 at Wake Forest W, 37-13 Sept. 19 The Citadel W, 49-0 Oct. 3 Virginia W, 41-23 Oct. 10 Miami W, 42-17 Oct. 17 at Georgia Tech W, 73-7 Oct. 24 Syracuse W, 47-21 Oct. 31 Boston College W, 34-28 Nov. 7 at Notre Dame (NBC) 7:30 p.m. Nov. 21 at Florida State TBA Nov. 28 Pittsburgh TBA Dec. 5 at Virginia Tech TBA Facts & Figures CLEMSON AT NOTRE DAME Game Info Date: Nov. 7, 2020 Site: Notre Dame Stadium Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET Television: NBC Radio: This game can be heard on Notre Dame's IMG affiliates. Series Facts: Clemson leads 3-1 and won the last meeting 30-3 in a College Football Play- off semifinal at the Cotton Bowl in Arlington, Texas, on Dec. 28, 2018. Head coaches: Clemson — Dabo Swinney (137-31, 13th season); Notre Dame — Brian Kelly (98-37, 11th season). Noting Clemson: The Tigers have reached the national championship game in four of the past five years (capturing the crown in both 2016 and 2018) and won at least 10 games in every season since 2011 … Clemson's only prior claimed national title was in 1981 … Swinney and his staff have signed a top-10 class every year but one since 2014 … Leading return- ing receiver Justyn Ross had offseason neck surgery that will keep him out for all of 2020 … Clemson's last regular-season loss was at Syracuse on Oct. 13, 2017 … The Tigers have lost two regular-season games since 2015. 2020 NOTRE DAME SCHEDULE Date Opponent (TV) Result/Time (ET) Sept. 12 Duke W, 27-13 Sept. 19 South Florida W, 52-0 Oct. 10 Florida State W, 42-26 Oct. 17 Louisville W, 12-7 Oct. 24 at Pittsburgh W, 45-3 Oct. 31 at Georgia Tech W, 31-13 Nov. 7 Clemson (NBC) 7:30 p.m. Nov. 14 at Boston College TBA Nov. 27 at North Carolina (ESPN) TBA Dec. 5 Syracuse (NBC) 2:30 p.m. Dec. 12 at Wake Forest TBA