Taking an early look at the 2015 Clemson football schedule.
I don’t know about the rest of the Tiger nation, but I’m still giddy about the whooping Clemson gave the Oklahoma Sooners in the Russell Athletic Bowl. While that victory was an excellent way to end the 2014 Clemson football season, many are already looking ahead to the 2015 Clemson football schedule.
Some concerns have arisen based on the fact that over 30 seniors left the team, as well as multiple players who are entering the NFL draft early.
Brent Venables’ defense has proved to be an elite powerhouse, destroying anyone who tries to break its walls. Now that we finally have the No. 1 ranked defense in the country, we’ll be losing nine of our 11 defensive starters. However, Clemson’s 2015 recruiting class ranks among the best in the country, so keeping an elite defense (and offense) should not be a problem.
What also won’t be (or shouldn’t be) a problem, are the Tigers’ first two home games of the 2015 season against Appalachian State and Wofford. App State has been bumped up from FCS to FBS, but they won’t quite be ready to take on the big dogs (or cats) just yet.
Wofford… is Wofford. They’ve won only half of their games the past two seasons, so they should be no trouble at all.
Boston College usually gives the Tigers a tough time, but this year’s game is in Death Valley and the win should come easily. Notre Dame will also make the trip to the south, and that game will certainly be fun to watch. This will be the Fighting Irish’s first visit in 37 years. As for Wake Forest, frankly, we’d beat them no matter where we played them.
As for road games next season, the quarterback for the North Carolina State Wolfpack, Jacoby Brissett, will give the Tigers a challenging game but, again, Clemson will have the manpower to obtain the win. Same story with Miami and Syracuse.
Now, on to the four games that should be the most exciting in the coming season. Louisville showed their teeth last season, and gave the Tigers a game that was too close for my comfort. The Cardinals may give Clemson one of their toughest road games of the season, so I certainly would not rule them out as a top ACC opponent.
Fortunately, the two bigger ACC games against FSU and Georgia Tech will be played in the confines of home sweet Death Valley. Both of these opponents frustrated Tiger fans and flustered the players with victories last season. Clemson had the ability to overtake each team, but were ultimately defeated. Hopefully, a younger and healthier Tiger team will be able to overcome these opponents next season.
Finally, there’s that other South Carolina team. The Gamecocks. What a nasty word.
While the past six years have only seen one Clemson victory, the next six should see many more. Last year, the Tigers wiped the field with Spurrier’s chickens, and it seems that the same feat may very well happen again next season. South Carolina just lost top recruits Mark Fields and Arden Key to de-commitments and those two weren’t the first to leave the Gamecocks’ 2015 recruiting class.
Last season’s South Carolina team couldn’t beat the Clemson Tigers, and it looks like next year’s team won’t be able to either.
Last season’s South Carolina team couldn’t beat the Clemson Tigers, and it looks like next year’s team won’t be able to either. Still, this will be one of the biggest games of the Tigers 2015 season.
So overall, next season will be a solid one with some exciting home games and a few tough road games. Again, with some high-end 2015 recruits, the Tigers should be able to fill their gaps and create a strong front on both offense and defense. Unfortunately, we can’t be certain. We’ll just have to wait. Next season is only 239 days away and counting.