Clemson football: Four best home openers under Dabo Swinney
2014 South Carolina State – September 6, 2014
Like 2020, despite being the home opener, Clemson football started the season on the road.
The week before, Clemson was in Athens battling UGA with starting quarterback Cole Stoudt. Todd Gurley took over late in the second half and the Dawgs beat Clemson 45-21. However, lost in the midst of that beating, Clemson football got its first look at a freshman quarterback Deshaun Watson.
I still maintain to this day that UGA had no answer for Deshaun and had Dabo gotten out of his own way and simply let the freshman play start from the jump, Clemson runs the table and makes the first-ever College Football Playoff.
I digress.
September 6th gave us a chance to Deshaun Watson at home for the first time. Like we said with Trevor, Deshaun did not disappoint. He ended the game 8/9 154 yards and three touchdowns through the air. He also added five carries for 20 yards on the ground.