It will not be easy, but that does not mean it is totally out of the realm of possibility. For the Clemson Tigers to ruin the Miami Hurricanes' bid for perfection, key players are going to have to step up in all three phases. Clemson is an improving team under Dabo Swinney, but it will take more than just great defense, outstanding special teams, and timely offense to hand the Canes their first loss of the year.
According to the FanDuel Sportsbook, Clemson will be getting 16.5 points at home versus Miami. The associated moneylines are Miami -1000 and Clemson +640. This means you would need to bet $1,000 on Miami to win $100, while a $100 wager on Clemson would pocket you $640. This may be the largest point spread Swinney has ever gone up against, but now is the time to buck the bad trend.
To avoid going 0-6 as a double-digit underdog, Swinney will need to lean on these five playmakers.
Clemson is 16½-point home underdog to Miami, the biggest underdog role in Dabo Swinney’s 19-year coaching career. It’s also only the 6th time in his 245 games, Tigers are a double-digit underdog. Clemson lost all 5 games as a double-digit dog
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) September 30, 2026
Jeremiah Alexander cannot backslide versus superior ACC competition
The last two weeks have been especially kind to Jeremiah Alexander. The fifth-year player and former Alabama transfer rose to the occasion versus North Carolina and Cal within the context of ACC play. But can he do it again? It is so important that he does, as the Miami Hurricanes have one of the most explosive offenses in the country, one that can score at all levels of the field with its great weaponry.
The reason Alexander needs to go off once again is twofold. Not only will a third-straight great game in ACC play take some pressure off Sammy Brown playing alongside him in the linebacking corps, but it may be what is required to keep Darian Mensah, Mark Fletcher Jr., Malachi Toney, Cooper Barkate, and the rest of Shannon Dawson's offense at bay. Clemson will need two stars in the middle of it all.
Alexander's rise to prominence has been so emblematic of Clemson's defensive turnaround of late.
Sammy Brown needs to inspire all his Clemson teammates around him
As expected, Brown must be the one directing traffic in the middle of everything defensively. While he may be the most technically sound player on the entire Clemson defense, his game does not always pop on television. Well, maybe he is saving it all for this huge game versus Miami? In short, his best game of the season is what will be required when the Tigers host the Hurricanes on Saturday night.
Win or lose, Brown still usually gets his as the team's star linebacker. However, he cannot fade into the background in lieu of other Clemson players taking over on defense. Clemson fans need to hear his name called multiple times over in Week 5 for the Tigers to realistically have a chance in this one. If Brown aims to be a first-round pick like Ashton Hampton or Will Heldt, this is the game for him to do it.
Brown has a reputation to uphold as a savvy tactician, but he will needs take his play to another level.
Gideon Davidson cannot play like he did versus LSU way back in Week 1
To be quite frank, there may not be a more important player to Clemson's success versus Miami this weekend than running back Gideon Davidson. If he plays like he did the last two weeks, Clemson will have a real shot at the upset bid. Should he be a non-factor like he was versus LSU, then the Tigers might be out of it before halftime. It is why Clemson cannot win this game without Davidson going off.
Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris has made it a point to try to get to around 40 carries per game. The Tigers do not have the high-end quarterback play to hang tough in a shootout just yet. It is why Davidson has to make the most of his 20-to-25 touches in the backfield. If he can continually move the sticks, Clemson will have a chance at winning time of possession, maybe even the game?
Of the handful of things that can happen in this game, Clemson is not winning it without Davidson.
Ashton Hampton must prove to everyone he is worthy of a top-16 pick
Clemson needs to continue to marvel in the back end of its defense. Its secondary has been amazing the last three weeks. While Elliot Washington II has been the one coming down with the interceptions, Hampton is the one playing like a top-16 pick. There are moments in the game where he plays like Clemson's next AJ Terrell. No one has a better shot to slow down Miami's passing game than he does.
Because Miami's offense can score points in a hurry in a multitude of ways, it is just as important for Hampton and the rest of the defensive backfield to slow down the pass as for Alexander, Brown, and the rest of the guys up front to stifle the run. Clemson's defense may be vastly improving, but it will take a Herculean effort to even make the Miami offense one-dimensional. Hampton better be ready.
This is the type of opportunity where Hampton can cement himself as a first-round NFL Draft pick.
Bryant Wesco Jr. needs to be in position to make big plays all game long
Even though it has not come easy for Bryant Wesco Jr. in the passing game so far this season, he showed us all last Friday night that he can still make something happen anyway. His electrifying punt return for a touchdown gave Clemson the decisive lead it never relinquished over Cal. Perhaps the biggest play of his season will ignite something fierce in Clemson's passing game for Tait Reynolds?
Not only will it take a sound game in all three phases for Clemson to win, but an explosive play off some sort of Miami breakdown will be key in pulling off the upset bid. Wesco has shown everyone that it can be him now. While it does not have to be, the mere threat of him doing something like that crazy punt return has to be in the back of Miami's mind now. Wesco has to give his team some hope.
If Clemson wants to score some points in a hurry versus Miami, it will start with Wesco taking charge.
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