Don't let the box score from Monday fool you.
Yes, the "New Look" Clemson Tigers looked unstoppable in their season opener, steamrolling New Hampshire 88-38 in a game that wasn't even that close. It was the program's largest margin of victory in a season opener since 1983 and the fewest points allowed to open a year since 1946.
The new faces dazzled. Redshirt freshman Ace Buckner exploded for 18 points in his debut. Transfers Jake Wahlin (11 points), Nick Davidson (10 points), and Carter Welling (10 points) all hit double-figures.
But Friday night, the vibes change. The opponent is Gardner-Webb (0-1) , and they just so happen to be the last team to beat Clemson in this series.
The Trap is Set
While Clemson leads the all-time series 4-1, that "1" is the most recent entry: a 72-70 shocker pulled off by the Runnin' Bulldogs back in 2014.
This 2025-26 Clemson squad is uniquely vulnerable to a repeat.
This is arguably the biggest roster turnover of the Brad Brownell era. The core of last season's Elite Eight team is gone. Chase Hunter, Ian Schieffelin, Viktor Lakhin, and Jaeden Zackery all exhausted their eligibility. Six others hit the transfer portal.
The result? The Tigers return just 5.4 points per game from last year's roster—the 12th-fewest among all major conference teams.
The X-Factor Returns
If there is a bridge from last year's success to this year's new-look squad, it's RJ Godfrey.
Godfrey, who played his first two seasons in Tigertown and was a key piece of the 2024 Elite Eight run, is back after spending a year at Georgia. He started the opener, posting nine points and nine rebounds.
"His philosophies have helped me just in life," Godfrey said of returning to play for Brownell. "It's something I took for granted my first two years here... I'm so grateful I have the opportunity to play for Clemson again."
That veteran presence will be critical. Head Coach Brad Brownell, now the winningest coach in program history, preached patience with his new group.
"Be patient," Brownell said. "I think we're going to be exciting and fun to watch. The strength of our team is the TEAM. It's our depth."
Prediction
The 2014 upset is a fun narrative, but this is a different decade. Gardner-Webb (0-1) is coming to Littlejohn Coliseum, where Clemson just won by 50. While the Tigers' roster is new, the talent level is high, as proven by the five newcomers who scored 9 or more points in the opener.
The Bulldogs won't be intimidated, but they don't have the size or athleticism to hang with Clemson's new-found depth. Expect Godfrey to set the tone with his physicality and for Ace Buckner to continue his hot start. Clemson gets its revenge.
Final Score: Clemson 82, Gardner-Webb 64