Clemson not in these football games that will affect Tigers strength of schedule
By John Chancey
Florida State vs LSU
While Clemson fans will be eagerly awaiting the season opener against Duke on Labor Day Monday, one of the biggest Week 1 matchups will happen the evening before in Orlando, Florida. Akin to last year, the Seminoles and Bayou Bengals will play a ‘neutral site’ opening game. While last year LSU ‘hosted’ in New Orleans, this season FSU will have the benefit of playing a few hours away from campus.
Both teams were better in 2022 than pundits expected, so expectations are high for both programs. While a loss in the first game of the season is not a deal breaker for getting a CFP berth, it will remove the margin for error.
With regards to the conference, it is another Atlantic Coast vs Southeastern matchup. The ACC’s reputation could use a boost from a Seminole win.
That might still be a hard sell with Tiger fans. The Seminoles have managed to be the darlings of the offseason for national pundits. This grates on Clemson Nation’s nerves like nails on a chalkboard. The Seminoles lost to the three toughest ACC opponents on their 2022 schedule (including the Tigers in Doak Campbell). Their best wins were last-minute escapes against LSU in the first game and an Oklahoma Sooners team that finished with a losing record in their bowl game.
The best way for Clemson fans to look at this is if the Seminoles lose, we get to laugh. If they win, then it helps the ACC’s credentials to get a win against the SEC.