For the first time in nearly a decade, Clemson enters a high-stakes November game with a new identity: spoiler.
The script is flipped. The Tigers (4-5, 3-4 ACC), long the dominant power of the Atlantic Coast Conference, are unranked and mathematically eliminated from College Football Playoff contention. Their preseason designation as the ACC favorite is a distant memory, replaced by the unfamiliar fight to simply reach a bowl game.
Their opponent in a rare Friday night spotlight is the team that now holds the ambitions Clemson once took for granted.
Louisville (7-2, 4-2 ACC) is the hunted. Despite a stunning overtime loss at home to California last week ended their CFP dreams, the Cardinals remain in the hunt—even if it is a small hunt—for a berth in the ACC Championship game.
A second consecutive home loss, especially to a sub-.500 rival, would be catastrophic.
"This is a massive game for our program," Louisville head coach Jeff Brohm said earlier this week, emphasizing the need to rebound from the Cal loss.
For Dabo Swinney's Tigers, the contest at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium (7:30 p.m. EST, ESPN) offers a different kind of motivation: a chance to prove the dynasty isn't dead, just wounded.
A win would not only move Clemson one step closer to bowl eligibility but would also serve as a powerful spoiler, effectively ending Louisville's conference title hopes and validating the Tigers' lingering pride.
The historical context of the series makes the role reversal even more stark. Clemson has dominated Louisville, holding an 8-1 all-time series lead. Even in this down year, the Tigers present a dangerous psychological and physical challenge for a Cardinals team that has rarely found success in this matchup.
Louisville, a 3.5-point favorite, is trying to secure its place as a new power in the conference. Clemson is trying to remind everyone that the old power still has a pulse.
On Friday night, the hunter and the hunted will find out which role suits them best.
Louisville's path to the ACC Championship:
How to secure a spot
Win out: Louisville must win all of its remaining games, with a key matchup against SMU that could be a decisive game for them.
Need help from other ACC teams: The team cannot control its own destiny because of its two conference losses.
They need to root for other contenders, specifically Virginia and Georgia Tech, to lose more games.
Other ACC teams' results in their final matchups will play a significant role in determining the standings.
Tiebreaker scenarios
If a tie in the standings occurs, the ACC uses a multi-step tiebreaker system:
Head-to-head competition between the tied teams.
Winning percentage against common opponents.
Combined winning percentage of all conference opponents.
A ranking metric provided by SportSource Analytics.