Three non-conference games Clemson football could schedule in 2020
Along with the rest of the country, Clemson football fans are anxiously awaiting to hear the fate of the 2020 season.
While many doubt the season will be played, there is still hope that things can get under control and that- with a new scheduling format- things could be worked out.
One of the most intriguing scheduling proposals for the 2020 season involves a partnership with ACC, Big 12 and SEC. In that proposal, the conferences would play non-conference games with one another as a way to fill games on the schedule.
There has been talk of the ACC doing an ‘8-and-2’ type format. What that would mean, for those who are just hearing about this, would be that the members of the league would play eight conference games and would be able to schedule two non-conference games (or potentially a ninth conference game if things didn’t work out for a second game scheduled in non-conference).
If this ended up being the case, one of the 2020 Clemson football non-conference games would be in-state rival South Carolina. But what about that potential match-up outside of the Gamecocks?
Here are three non-conference opponents Clemson football could schedule during the 2020 season with the ‘8-and-2’ format in place.
3. Tennessee Volunteers
Would the game against Tennessee be all that exciting in terms of the on-field product? Most likely not.
While the Vols are seemingly taking steps towards becoming relevant again, they’re certainly not there yet and Clemson would have a sizable advantage in terms of depth and talent coming into this one.
But it would still be fun.
While there’s no official rivalry between Clemson and Tennessee, there has always been some banter between the two fan bases. Having a game like this against a historically-solid program in the Vols would certainly catch the attention of every Tiger fan and be something worth watching.
2. Georgia Bulldogs
If you notice a trend with this shortlist, we’re going to be sticking exclusively with SEC teams. After all, it only makes sense that Clemson would try to schedule non-conference games in its same geographical region.
You can’t get much closer than Athens.
We’ve been waiting to see the rivalry between Clemson and Georgia renewed since the two programs last matched up in Sanford Stadium back in 2014. Yes, it’s been that long.
While the two will play to kickoff the 2021 season in Bank of America Stadium, there’d be nothing wrong with getting an extra rivalry game in now and the product on-the-field would also be something that would draw the eyes of the nation.
1. Florida Gators
I’m not one who believes that Florida is back or that the Gators are going to the CFB Playoff, but let’s not pretend that this game wouldn’t draw huge television numbers- and as many fans as would be allowed.
We haven’t seen these two teams play since 1961.
They’re relatively close in geographic region (a little less than a 7-hour drive) and there’s just something intriguing about the traditions and passionate following of both fan bases. Whether this one was played in The Swamp, Death Valley, or at a neutral location like Atlanta Motor Speedway or Mercedes-Benz Stadium, this would be one we would all have major excitement for before the season ever even began.
The Florida game even ranks ahead of the Georgia game, in my opinion, simply because the Tigers and Gators have not played in more than a half-century and we’re going to see Clemson-Georgia next season.