Clemson ACC Media Days Preview

The Tigers will take the stage in Charlotte on Thursday morning. Head coach Dabo Swinney, along with quarterback Cade Klubnik, defensive lineman Tyler Davis, and offensive lineman Will Putnam, will address the media and answer questions about the upcoming season.

Clemson enters the ACC Kickoff as the conference's defending champion, but questions loom about the program's status; are the Tigers still the dominant force in the ACC? Or has another team, Florida State, closed the gap? Clemson is set to take center stage at 11:00 a.m. EST.

The biggest questions Clemson will face:

Is new offensive coordinator Garrett Riley the answer?

Riley's ascent to the Clemson OC job has been remarkable. This time two years ago, he was preparing to call plays at SMU for the first time. Now, he'll be charged with rebuilding Clemson's offense to a championship level.

How does Cade Klubnik fit into Riley's system?

Max Duggan went from TCU's bench to the Heisman Trophy ceremony in 2022. That was in large part due to Garrett Riley's playcalling. Duggan's biggest threat was his ability to create with his legs. Look for Riley to use Cade Klubnik (139 yards rushing in 2022) much the same.

Can the defense carry the offense, at least for a little while?

There will always be clunky times when installing a new offense. The Tigers have the advantage of three games to start the year that they should win on talent alone, but that won't be the case in week 4. Florida State is Clemson's biggest competition for the ACC title this season. If Clemson's offense does falter, can the defense, led by two of the best linebackers in the sport (Barrett Carter and Jeremiah Trotter Jr.), carry the load?