Previewing Notre Dame vs. Clemson. Everything you need to know from Death Valley

Michael Wanbaugh, South Bend Tribune

CLEMSON, S.C. — Setting the table for No. 15 (CFP) Notre Dame football's battle with Clemson Saturday afternoon at Death Valley. Kickoff at Memorial Stadium is set for noon on ABC.

☘ Notre Dame Football Schedule | ☘ 2023 full roster | ☘ Depth chart vs. Clemson | ☘ Season predictions

More: Where did College Football Playoff Committee rank Notre Dame in first ballot of 2023?

No. 15 Notre Dame (7-2) vs. Clemson (4-4)

■When: Saturday, Nov. 4, noon. EDT

■Where: Frank Howard Field at Clemson Memorial Stadium (81,500), Clemson, S.C.

■Rankings: Notre Dame is No. 12 in both the AP and US LBM Coaches Polls and No. 15 in the College Football Playoff rankings. Clemson is unranked.

■TV: ABC

■Radio: WSBT (960 AM), WNSN (101.5 FM)

■Line: Notre Dame opens as a 2.5-point favorite

■Series: Clemson leads all-time series 4-3

■Last meeting: Unranked Notre Dame defeated No. 5 Tigers, 35-14, on Nov. 5, 2022 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Ind.

Notre Dame’s Chris Brown (2) has the ball poked out by a Clemson lineman in 2015.
Notre Dame’s Chris Brown (2) has the ball poked out by a Clemson lineman in 2015.

Pregaming

▶ Who's going to make a difference? 4 players to watch when Notre Dame football plays Clemson

Sep 30, 2023; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils running back Jaquez Moore (9) tries to elude Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker JD Bertrand (27) during the second quarter at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 30, 2023; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils running back Jaquez Moore (9) tries to elude Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker JD Bertrand (27) during the second quarter at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

▶ What's wrong with Clemson football? That's a loaded question as Notre Dame visits

Oct 28, 2023; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney runs with the team on the field before a game against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 28, 2023; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney runs with the team on the field before a game against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Sports

▶ Tale of the tape, predictions: Notre Dame looks to bolster NY6 bowl case against Clemson

2023 NOTRE DAME (7-2) SCHEDULE

All Times Eastern; Home games in CAPS

Aug. 26 | vs. Navy @ Dublin, Ireland | W, 42-3

Sept. 2 | TENNEESEE STATE | W, 56-3

Sept. 9 | @ North Carolina State | W, 45-24

Sept. 16 | CENTRAL MICHIGAN | W, 41-17

Sept. 23 | No. 6 OHIO STATE | L, 17-14

Sept. 30 | @ Duke | 7:30 p.m. | W, 21-14

Oct. 7 | @ Louisville | 7:30 | L, 33-20

Oct. 14 | USC | 7:30 | W, 48-20

Oct. 21 | Open

Oct. 28 | PITTSBURGH | 3:30 | ABC | W, 58-7

Nov. 4 | @ Clemson |Noon |Memorial Stadium

Nov. 11 | Open

Nov. 18 | WAKE FOREST | 3:30 | NBC, Peacock | Notre Dame Stadium

Nov. 25 | @ Stanford | TBA | Stanford Stadium

2023 Clemson (4-4) SCHEDULE

All Times Eastern; Home games in CAPS

Sept. 4 | @ Duke | L, 28-7

Sept. 9 | vs. CHARLESTON SOUTHERN | W, 66-17

Sept. 16 | vs. FLORIDA ATLANTIC | W, 48-14

Sept. 23 | vs. FLORIDA STATE | L, 31-24 (OT)

Sept. 30 | @ Syracuse | W, 31-14

Oct. 7 | vs. WAKE FOREST | W, 17-12

Oct. 14 | Open

Oct. 21 | @ Miami | L, 28-20 (2OT)

Oct. 28 | @ N.C. State | L, 24-17

Nov. 4 | vs. NOTRE DAME | Noon | ABC | Memorial Stadium

Nov. 11 | vs. GEORGIA TECH | TBA

Nov. 18 | vs. NORTH CAROLINA | TBA

Nov. 25 | @ South Carolina | TBA

Irish items

  • This is the eighth meeting between Notre Dame and Clemson and fifth since 2015. The Tigers lead the series 4-3 while the Irish have won two of the last three.

  • Clemson’s last two wins in the series came in the 2018 Cotton Bowl CFP semifinal, 30-3, and 2020 ACC Championship game, 34-10.

  • Notre Dame won the most recent meeting, 35-14, in South Bend and lost in Death Valley during a 2015 monsoon, 24-22, on a failed two-point conversion attempt in the final seconds.

  • With his 82-yard punt return for a TD last week vs. Pittsburgh, WR Chris Tyree became the fourth Irish player to score on a punt return, kickoff return, rush and reception in his career. He joins Julius Jones, Raghib “Rocket” Ismail and 1987 Heisman Trophy winner Tim Brown.

  • With 99 yards rushing, Audric Estime would become the 13th Notre Dame running back to run for 1,000 yards in a season. With 119 yards, Estime would become the 19th Irish player with 2,000 career rushing yards.

  • Notre Dame’s defense is tied for first nationally in defensive touchdowns (4), second in Red Zone defense (.647) and third in interceptions (13), Passing yards allowed (158.6), turnovers gained (18) and pass efficiency defense (98.34).

  • Clemson has lost two games in a row and has never lost three in a row during Dabo Swinney’s tenure. The last time that happened, Swinney was elevated to head coach after Tommy Bowden was fired midseason in 2008 after losing to Maryland, Wake Forest and Georgia Tech.

  • Notre Dame QB Sam Hartman, a transfer from Wake Forest, is 0-3 as a starter vs. Clemson. However, in a 51-45 loss last season he was 20-of-29 for 337 yards and six touchdowns without and interception.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Notre Dame football preview vs. Clemson Saturday Death valley

Advertisement