Clemson Football: Assigning Dubs and L’s to the 2023 schedule
With the reveal of the worst-kept secret in a while (Clemson opening at Duke) the Clemson football schedule for 2023 was released at the end of January.
For the second consecutive season the Tigers play three games in twelve days to start the season and while no one is going to confuse Duke and Charleston Southern with Georgia and Ohio State, it’s still notable (to me) and out of the ordinary (to every other college football team).
Most of the time if a team plays on Labor Day night they are off one of the next two Saturdays, but not our Clemson Tigers, they play straight through the first half of the season.
Half of the Clemson football games will be played in 33 days to start the season
I use that term, “first half of the season”, loosely because those six games are played in a span of 33 days, from September 4 to October 7.
I get it, I’m picking nits, but that’s what I do here, at least some of the time.
Football is about routine. There’s a reason the most successful teams talk about “the process” and not the results. Coaches love routines.
Playing on Monday and then again on Saturday upsets that routine. That’s all I’m saying.
On to those Dubs and L’s.
Monday, September 4 at Duke
I can’t believe I’m typing this but Duke’s the latest hot name in the ACC after finishing 9-4 in 2022. The Blue Devils are much improved and they’ll be facing a Clemson team running a new offense with a newish quarterback.
So you’re saying there’s a chance?
Sure, there’s a chance, but the Tigers have the better, more talented athletes all over the field.
(Duke also starts with 3 games in 12 days – thanks, ACC)
Result: W
Saturday, September 9 Charleston Southern
I’m so old this school was once known as The Baptist College. Look it up kids.
The Buccaneers were 2-8 last year, beating up on two kids named Bryant and Robert Morris and losing to North Carolina State by 52 points.
Result: W
Saturday, September 16 Florida Atlantic
The Owls are coming of a 5-7 season, moving to a new conference and will be coached by Tom Herman, late of Texas and a few other places.
This and the following week’s game at Illinois is all that’s on the schedule so far as they move to the AAC and really those two games will keep the athletic department afloat.
Result: W