With the first ACC availability report coming out on Wednesday evening, it is abundantly clear how banged up Clemson is heading into the Syracuse game. The Tigers have 12 players listed as out, compared to the five for the Orange. For the Tigers, running back Gideon Davidson, linebacker Kobe McCloud, center Harris Sewell, and left guard Elyjah Thurmon have all been listed out already for it.
While Davidson, McCloud, Sewell, and Thurmon all being ruled out does not come as a surprise, seeing two wide receivers, Tyler Brown and Gordon Sellars III, listed as questionable certainly is. Sellars is still working his way back from a concussion suffered during the Charleston Southern game. He did not play against Virginia Tech or Florida State. Brown's injury is news to everyone.
Although this slew of injuries could be giving off the trap game vibes for Clemson, the momentum this team is playing with after the Florida State victory is exceedingly palpable. Clemson showed it could respond in a big way after its worst loss of the season at home against Virginia Tech. While Syracuse and Georgia Tech are not upper-echelon teams in the ACC, Clemson cannot overlook them.
First ACC availability report is out for Clemson-Syracuse … as Dabo Swinney forecasted earlier this week, it’s a long one for the Tigers, who will be down at least three starters: pic.twitter.com/TvzPJ6SSXr
— Chapel Fowler (@chapelfowler) November 5, 2026
Clemson's offensive depth will have to be on full display facing Syracuse
Even if this game is on the road and currently projected to be a one-score affair, Clemson has to show how mature of a team it has under Dabo Swinney. This is because Clemson fell to Georgia Tech and Syracuse back-to-back last year, completely unraveling its season. With those games and locations flipped, as well as being later in the season, it is an opportunity to show this team is still improving.
To be down three key starters on offense in Davidson, Sewell, and Thurmon, as well as a rotational linebacker on defense in McCloud, Swinney better have the rest of his guys ready to play. This will be a great opportunity for players like Jarvis Green, Chris Johnson Jr., Gavin Blanchard, Grant Wise, and CJ Kubah-Taylor to take advantage of their expanded roles. Complacency will not be tolerated here.
While every injury is different, this feels like a spot where Swinney seems to be more comfortable with keeping key starters out an extra week to get healthier. In all fairness, Syracuse had been one of the worst teams in the ACC until two weeks ago. Georgia Tech still very much is. However, Clemson only just scored 30-plus points for the first time all season against an FBS opponent in Florida State.
Overall, Clemson may be at a talent advantage coming into the Syracuse game, but the Orange do tend to save their best football for whenever they take on the Tigers. These former ACC Atlantic foes have a knack for playing interesting games. With Steve Angeli playing better since coming back from injury, the Syracuse quarterback does give the Orange a better shot at the upset bid than expected.
Right now, Clemson has to show how deep a team it really is with so many stars out against Syracuse.
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