After Wednesday's debut edition of the Clemson news roundup, how about another one to round out the workweek? The Clemson Tigers have a busy weekend ahead of them. Shawn Poppie's women's basketball team just took on the East Tennessee State Buccaneers on Thursday night, while Brad Brownell's men's team will host American on Friday. The football team will be at Syracuse on Saturday.
With it being the early part of the basketball season, it is all about Brownell and Poppie's squads getting warmed up for the year ahead. As for Swinney's team, the Tigers need a road win over the Orange to make sure last week's win over Florida State can serve as the springboard as it needs to be. As for Mike Noonan's soccer team, it is all about going on a deep run in the ACC Tournament.
Without further ado, here are some of the biggest Clemson news items that you might have missed.
Tee Higgins is AFC Offensive Player of the Week after amazing Week 8
What a weekend it was for Clemson legend and Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins! He had 10 catches for 155 yards and two touchdowns in the Bengals' thrilling 43-36 overtime victory over the Tennessee Titans. It was the second time this season he had over 10 catches for 150-plus yards. This was the first game where he hit pay dirt twice, helping the Bengals improve to a strong 5-2 mark.
Thus, Higgins was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts. He enters Week 9 with 43 catches for 726 yards and four touchdowns, well ahead of pace for his third 1,000-yard season. This should have him in on the verge of back-to-back Pro Bowl nods, as well as getting back in the mix of being on pace for his third-straight 10-touchdown reception season in a row. This guy is incredible!
The Bengals will take on the Atlanta Falcons next over in Madrid on Sunday, Nov. 8 at 9:30 a.m. ET.
Tee time. pic.twitter.com/r0A4Tj71XI
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) November 4, 2026
Jay Bilas is optimistic about Clemson's season despite 2 key absences
With basketball season underway, leave it up to ESPN basketball analyst Jay Bilas to share his thoughts on Brownell's Tigers. He has Clemson as the 53rd best team in the country, meaning the Tigers will probably make the NCAA Tournament once again, albeit in an expanded field. Bilas has optimism about this team, despite Carter Welling's injury and the eligibility status of Dillon Hunter.
"The Tigers have made the past three NCAA tournaments, and last season were top-25 in defensive adjusted efficiency," Bilas wrote. "If everything combines just right, Clemson could challenge the top tier of the ACC." Welling is slated to be in back in time for ACC play in his recovery from a torn ACL suffered in March. Hunter is a court ruling away from taking the floor again. Bilas sees the big picture.
Clemson will host the American Eagles next on Friday, Nov. 6 at 7:00 p.m. ET at Littlejohn Coliseum.
Men's soccer advances in wet one past Duke at home in ACC Tournament
While it was expected, Clemson did get past Duke in the first round of the ACC Tournament on a rainy Wednesday evening, 2-1. Noonan's team was lifted by a pair of goals by Duncan Wilson and Philip Rolke. Wilson scored the first of two Clemson goals in the 16th minute of action by finding Remi Okunlola's pass in Duke's box. 12 minutes later, Rolke connected on Ransford Gyan's corner kick.
It was one of those matches where the weather was certainly a factor. This always helps the lesser of the two teams competing. While Duke was able to put one in the back of the net, Clemson outshot Duke 10-9 on the evening, and a 7-4 corner kick advantage. Simply put, Clemson was just a little bit sounder over on offense to get past the Blue Devils in the first round of this year's ACC Tournament.
Clemson will take on North Carolina next in the ACC quarterfinals on Sunday, Nov. 8 at 12:00 p.m. ET.
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