A resurgent Clemson team playing for its postseason life travels to face No. 19 Louisville on Friday night in a high-stakes ACC finale with major implications for both programs.
For Clemson (4-5, 3-4 ACC), a 26-year streak of finishing .500 or better in conference play is on the line. For Louisville (7-2, 4-2 ACC), it's a chance to prove that last season's historic win over the Tigers was the start of a new trend, not an aberration.
The Cardinals, coming off a disappointing overtime loss to Cal, open as 3.5-point home favorites for the 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium, which will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.
The Stakes
After a disastrous 1-3 start, Clemson has rallied, winning three of its last five. The Tigers are not just playing for bowl eligibility, but for pride. A loss would secure their first losing conference record since 1998. The program also holds a 10-game winning streak in ACC regular-season finales, a streak they aim to protect.
For Louisville, this is an opportunity to achieve its first-ever home victory against Clemson. The Tigers are a perfect 4-0 all-time in Louisville. After shocking Clemson 33-21 in Death Valley last year—Louisville's first win in the nine-game series history—a second-straight victory would signal a definitive shift in the conference hierarchy.
Clemson is famously difficult to beat twice. Under coach Dabo Swinney, the Tigers are 24-12 in "rematch" games against an opponent they lost to in the previous meeting. They have not lost to the same team in back-to-back years since Florida State accomplished the feat from 2012-14.
The Resurgence of the Clemson Offense
Clemson's turnaround has been fueled by a revitalized offense. Through September, the Tigers ranked 116th in the nation in scoring, averaging a meager 19.8 points per game.
Since October 1, that same unit is averaging 34.4 points, tied for 19th-best in the nation.
The catalyst has been senior quarterback Cade Klubnik. In his last four games, Klubnik has been one of the most efficient passers in the country, completing 77.8% of his passes for 1,140 yards with eight touchdowns and only one interception. His 180.5 passer rating in that span ranks third in the FBS.
"We're a different team than we were in September," Swinney said after Clemson's dominant 24-10 win over Florida State last week. "Our confidence is high, and Cade is playing exceptional football."
Matchup to Watch: Clemson's Offense vs. Louisville's Defense
Klubnik's offense, which also features versatile running back Adam Randall (6 rushing TDs, 3 receiving TDs) and veteran receiver Antonio Williams (19 career TDs), faces a Louisville defense eager to rebound.
Last week, Clemson's defense set the tone, holding Florida State's top-ranked offense to a season-low 10 points and sacking the quarterback six times. That defensive unit, led by freshman phenom Sammy Brown and safety Ricardo Jones (4 INTs), will now turn its attention to Louisville's high-powered attack.
The Cardinals are led by senior quarterback Miller Moss and the ACC's all-purpose yardage leader, wide receiver Caullin Lacy. The senior receiver is averaging 128.6 yards per game and will be the primary focus for the Clemson secondary.
By the Numbers
- Series History: Clemson leads 8-1.
- At Louisville: Clemson leads 4-0.
- Last Meeting: Louisville won 33-21 on Nov. 2, 2024.
- Clemson's Offense (Since Oct. 1): 34.4 ppg (T-19th FBS), 444.6 ypg (19th FBS).
- Klubnik (Since Oct. 1): 180.5 passer rating (3rd FBS), 77.8% comp., 8 TDs, 1 INT.
- Clemson's Streak: 26 consecutive seasons at .500 or better in ACC play (T-1st active streak in FBS).
- Kicker Watch: Clemson kicker Nolan Hauser has made eight consecutive field goal attempts.
How to Watch
- Who: Clemson (4-5, 3-4 ACC) at No. 19 Louisville (7-2, 4-2 ACC)
- When: 7:30 p.m. ET, Friday, Nov. 14, 2025
- Where: L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium, Louisville, Ky.
- TV: ESPN (Anish Shroff, Andre Ware, Paul Carcaterra)
- Line: Louisville -3.5