While Miami is beat up heading into Saturday night's showdown, so too is Clemson. On Wednesday night's ACC injury report, the Tigers had seven players listed as out and two as questionable. Miami has six players out and two questionable as well. The good news for Clemson is that Corian Gipson, Christopher Vizzina, and Devarrick Woods were nowhere to be found after they all missed some time.
Unfortunately, running back David Eziomume is now out for the season after being carted off the field with a bad leg injury. Clemson also has to monitor the health of offensive lineman Elyjah Thurmon and defensive end Armon Mason. While Mason has not played very much this season, Thurmon starts at left guard for the Tigers. If Thurmon is unable to go, that could make things difficult for the offense.
For Clemson to pull off the big home upset of Miami, the Tigers will need to lean on Gideon Davidson out of the backfield and play some tenacious defense. Tait Reynolds might even need to make a play or two, but he is not the straw that stirs the drink for this team yet, only the one to raise the vibes in the locker room. Clearly, the Thurmon injury is the one that Clemson will need to keep close tabs on.
Initial ACC availability report for Saturday's game between Clemson and No. 4 Miami: pic.twitter.com/e1KD2DkHzt
— Chapel Fowler (@chapelfowler) October 1, 2026
Who would start in place of Elyjah Thurmon at left guard for Clemson?
In the event that Thurmon cannot go, it will be second-year player Gavin Blanchard filling in for him. Blanchard replaced Thurmon last week after his injury at Cal and played quite well in the trenches. While right tackle Collin Sadler dealt with an injury earlier in the season, the rest of Clemson's starting offensive line has held up with Brayden Jacobs, Harris Sewell, and Ronan O'Connell over four games.
Although the offensive line is not an area of strength for this Clemson team, Matt Luke's front five has improved every week since the start of the season. We can tell based on how well Clemson has run the football over the last three weeks. Having a more mobile quarterback behind them in Reynolds helps, but it might be more about Davidson's emergence as Clemson lead back than anything else.
Regardless of whether it is Thurmon or Blanchard starting at left guard for Clemson, it is going to take a near-perfect game out of Dabo Swinney's team to pull off the biggest upset of his career. To date, Swinney has never been a bigger underdog since leading Clemson. The Tigers may be a team that is well-versed in handling adversity, but there are levels to this. Can they get on Miami's level Saturday?
In the end, Clemson cannot use injuries as an excuse coming into this one, as Miami is just about as banged up as the Tigers are. With the weather potentially being a factor, this one being at home, and Miami having a proclivity for losing dumb games under Mario Cristobal, an upset special could be in order for the Tigers. Of course, Swinney has never won a game as a double-digit underdog before...
Thurmon's injury does feel like a tipping point for this game, but hopefully, Clemson can overcome it.
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