Carolina opponent preview: Clemson

Saturday, Sept. 28 (TBA) at Kenan Stadium

Last meeting: Clemson 45, Carolina 37 (Dec. 5, 2015)

All-time series: Clemson 37-19-1

Head coach: Dabo Swinney

ACC preseason poll: First, Atlantic; overall champion.

Key losses: DE Clelin Ferrell (first-round pick), DT Christian Wilkins (first), DT Dexter Lawrence (first), CB Trayvon Mullen (second), DE Austin Bryant (fourth), WR Hunter Renfrow (fifth), LT Mitch Hyatt, C Justin Falcinelli, CB Mark Fields, LB Tre Lamar, WR Trevion Thompson, DT Albert Huggins, RB Tavien Feaster, LB Kendall Joseph, LB J.D. Davis.

Key returners: QB Trevor Lawrence, RB Travis Etienne, RB Lyn-J Dixon, WR Tee Higgins, WR Justyn Ross, WR Amari Rogers, RG Sean Pollard, RT Tremayne Anchrum, LG John Simpson, DE Xavier Thomas, DT Nyles Pinckney, LB Chad Smith, S Isaiah Simmons, S K'Von Wallace, S Tanner Muse, CB A.J. Terrell.

Top newcomers: CB Andrew Booth, WR Joe Ngata, WR Frank Ladson, DT Tyler Davis, TE Jaelyn Lay, CB Sheridan Jones.

Getting to know the Tigers, quickly

Lil' Ole Clemson has only won two national championships in the past four seasons, which is the same number of its ACC losses over that span. Both numbers, overshadowed by the Tigers four losses in that period.
The Tigers only landed 14 players that ranked among the top 20 at their position in this recruiting class.
Lil' Ole Clemson is just trying its best.
Okay, but seriously, Clemson is the No. 1 team in both the preseason AP and Coaches polls and 170 of 173 votes to repeat as ACC champions. Swinney's program has reached a stratosphere only occupied by Alabama over the past decade, where the Tigers keep rolling despite losing several high-end NFL Draft picks every season.
Choose your Heisman Trophy favorite! Will it be Lawrence, who completed 65 percent of his attempts for 3,280 yards, 30 TD and 4 INT after the true freshman took over the starting job in Clemson's fifth game.
Or will it be Etienne, who ran 204 times for 1,658 yards and 24 touchdowns, averaging 8.1 yards per carry? His numbers would be even more absurd if Clemson played more competitive games.
There's no better receiving duo in the nation than Ross, who finished his freshman season with 46 catches for 1,000 yards and 9 TD, and Higgins, who had 59 catches for 936 yards and 12 TD as a sophomore.
If there's any area of concern for the Tigers, it's the defensive line with all four of last year's starters now in the NFL. Clemson obviously has tons of talent ready to step up, but Pinckney and Thomas are the only guys who made major contributions last season.

In conclusion...

Clemson will be playing football in January for the fifth straight season and it's likely Syracuse is the only team that can truly compete with the Tigers this season.

Some folks that evaluate talent believe Lawrence is the most talented NFL prospect they've ever seen. As fans of the game in general, it's hard to not be in awe of what he did as a true freshman and knowing he'll still have one more year after this one.

What would a win mean for Carolina?

It would take Antonio Williams and Michael Carter having the performances of their lives against a Clemson defensive line that hasn't figured things out plus the single greatest defensive game the Tar Heels have ever played.

A program-altering day that would put the Tar Heels on the fast-track to reaching unprecedented heights in the next five seasons.
Maybe inducting Brown into the College Football Hall of Fame for a second time?
The most hungover Sunday in Chapel Hill's history.
North Carolina gets to annex Charleston.

What would a loss mean for Carolina?

Absolutely nothing, considering Clemson beat the second-best program in college football 44-16 last season.

If there's ever a chance for moral victory, this is it. Hang around for a while, put up some points and force a turnover or two? That's a good day for the Tar Heels.

Neat college football thing

How cool can it really be to watch people run down a hill?

Really, really cool, actually.

It's not just about running down the hill. It's about watching a tiny town come alive on a Saturday morning when you'd swear everyone that isn't a Gamecocks fan in the state of South Carolina is a) wearing orange b) tailgating somewhere around the stadium.

Clemson is the perfect road trip for fans to get in and out in a day while getting a taste of big-time football and folks who are more than happy to welcome a stranger to the party.

Inside the stadium, it gets lively early with a resident DJ while the in-house media crew produces some great work to get the crowd fired up. As the Tigers prepare to rub Howard's Rock and run down the hill, Frank Howard's quote, "If you're going to give me 110 percent, you can rub that rock. If you're not, keep your filthy hands off of it," hits in the pregame video. It'll give you chills, even if you've seen it more than once.