No. 1 Clemson opens season at Wake Forest in ACC matchup

Posted September 10, 2020 7:00 am

By The Associated Press

FILE - In this Oct. 12, 2019, file photo, Clemson's Trevor Lawrence throws a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Florida State, in Clemson, S.C. Lawrence is a candidate for the 2020 Heisman Trophy award. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro, File) The Associated Press

No. 1 Clemson at Wake Forest, Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET (ABC).

Line: Clemson by 33.

Series record: Clemson leads 67-17-1.

WHAT'S AT STAKE?

The Tigers are beginning their pursuit of a sixth straight ACC championship and a third national title in five seasons. They're coming off a loss to LSU in last year's College Football Playoff finale, the only blemish on a two-year 29-1 record. That also marks the only loss in the college career of Heisman Trophy candidate Trevor Lawrence at quarterback. The Demon Deacons are opening the season looking for a fifth straight bowl appearance under Dave Clawson, though they must overcome massive personnel losses on the offensive side of the football.

KEY MATCHUP

Wake Forest's defensive front against Clemson's star-filled backfield. Lawrence grabs the most attention as a preseason Associated Press all-American and the pick as preseason ACC player of the year, but there's also running back Travis Etienne as the two-time ACC player of the year. The Demon Deacons' defense offers the most returning experience, and that includes a line with preseason second-team AP all-American Carlos 'œBoogie'ť Basham Jr. Any effort to slow the Tigers' high-scoring attack must start with making things difficult on Lawrence and Etienne at the line.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Clemson: DT Bryan Bresee is a freshman and the Tigers' top recruit who is listed as a tri-starter along the defensive line. Bresee is 6-foot-5, 300 pounds who Swinney said was ready physically from the moment he stepped on campus.

Wake Forest: QB Sam Hartman. The redshirt sophomore has 10 starts in his career, most coming during the 2018 season. He threw for 16 touchdowns with eight interceptions that year but had played mostly behind departed Jamie Newman since.

FACTS & FIGURES

Clemson has won five straight openers and 10 of 11. ... This is Clemson's first season-opening game on the road since winning at Auburn in 2016. ... The Tigers have won 22 straight games against ACC teams since losing at Syracuse in October 2017. ... Clemson has won 11 straight meetings in the series. ... Wake Forest has lost the last two meetings by a combined score of 115-6, managing only one field goal in each game. ... ESPN's 'œCollege GameDay'ť pregame show is making its first ever appearance at Wake Forest for this game. ... The Demon Deacons are 5-1 in openers under Clawson.

FILE - In this Dec. 28, 2019, file photo, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney watches players warm up for the team's Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football playoff semifinal against Ohio State in Glendale, Ariz. The top-ranked Tigers are 29-1 over the past two seasons and have won five straight ACC championships. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File) The Associated Press

FILE - In this Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019, file photo, Wake Forest quarterback Sam Hartman looks to pass against Florida State in the second half of an NCAA college football game in Winston-Salem, N.C. The Demon Deacons have been to four straight bowl games but will have to overcome significant personnel losses on offense in coach Dave Clawson's seventh season. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond, File) The Associated Press

FILE - In this Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019, file photo, Wake Forest head coach Dave Clawson, right, speaks to an official during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Syracuse in Syracuse, N.Y. Wake Forest has been to four straight bowl games but will have to overcome significant personnel losses on offense in Clawson's seventh season. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus, File) The Associated Press

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