Clemson football: Four best home openers under Dabo Swinney

2018 Furman – September 1, 2018

Most Clemson football home openers aren’t against great opponents and while Furman certainly lacks the luster of a Power five opponent, this was special for a different reason.

This was our first look at phenom freshman Trevor Lawrence. We all saw the high school highlights, the wins, and the state of Georgia passing records. We knew he had the long flowing locks and the great smile but what would he look like in the field in his first college game?

Trevor Lawrence certainly did not disappoint. He ended the day 9/14 for 137 yards and three touchdowns. The quarterback controversy hype machine would get kicked into first gear after this game.

As we know Trevor would eventually supplant Kelly Bryant and would go onto become just the second true freshman quarterback in college football history to lead a team a national title when he curb-stomped both Notre Dame and Alabama in the College Football Playoff.