The Clemson Tigers now know what time they will be taking on the Charleston Southern Buccaneers in Week 7. After its Week 6 bye, Clemson will host Charleston Southern for a 12:00 p.m. ET kickoff at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 17. The ACC Network will carry the game. With a chance to start another winning streak very much in play for the Tigers in this game, look for them to take advantage.
While it might not seem like much, this is exactly what Clemson needs to set the second half of its season off on the right foot. Clemson is 3-2 overall and 2-1 in ACC play. Although this is the mark that most people expected for the Tigers to have, having had to navigate four primetime kicks or later, as well as three consecutive games disrupted by weather, a noon kickoff at home is greatly appreciated.
After this game, Clemson will only have Power Four opponents left. The Tigers will get Virginia Tech, Florida State, Syracuse, Georgia Tech, and Duke to round out ACC, with the Palmetto Bowl at home versus arch rival South Carolina to end the regular season. With only Duke and maybe Virginia Tech being ranked at the time of Clemson's meeting with them, the second half shall be opening up nicely.
News: Clemson football’s next home game against Charleston Southern will be a noon kickoff on ACC Network, the conference just announced. Game is set for Saturday, Oct. 17
— Chapel Fowler (@chapelfowler) October 5, 2026
Clemson can be the team Dabo Swinney wants coming out of the bye
Clemson needs to approach its bye week in two ways. Dabo Swinney has to address the big issues, while also using this much-needed time off to rest, recover, and recalibrate. If Clemson plays its cards right, this team can win upwards of 10 regular-season games, Yes, that would require winning out, but there are no LSU's or Miami's to be had on its remaining schedule, only Duke and maybe Virginia Tech.
Not to say Clemson is going to be favored in all seven of their remaining regular-season games, but the Tigers will open as a massive favorite over FCS Charleston Southern ahead of Oct. 17's tilt. What we have seen so far out of Clemson tells us that this well-coached team can beat up on lesser teams, but struggles to keep it together versus the biggest of baddies across the Power Four. It is what it is.
While there is a chance Clemson could sleepwalk coming out of its bye, it is so much better to get the Charleston Southern game out of the way, as opposed to it be another primetime kick like it was at home versus Georgia Southern. The extended runway between the LSU and Georgia Southern game made it almost agonizing before kickoff. Clemson may have to be on a bye, but this early kick is great.
Right now, Clemson can only control what it can control. While it may have wanted to play its next game versus Charleston Southern as soon as possible to get the bad taste of the Miami home loss out of its mouth, an early afternoon kickoff is about as good as you could do otherwise. This beats hosting Virginia Tech at noon out of the bye, or having to face Duke under the bright lights in Durham.
If there was ever a perfect cleanser to be had for Clemson's up-and-down season, this would be it.
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