Clemson enters Saturday night’s matchup against Georgia Southern as a 20.5-point favorite, but early-season statistical trends suggest the Tigers cannot afford to take anything for granted.
Coming off an opening week where Clemson managed just 10.0 points per game and allowed 51.0 points to opponents, the Tigers return home to Memorial Stadium with a game total set at 55.5 points. To protect home field and justify the heavy spread, Clemson must address several key areas on both sides of the ball.
Here are the 5 keys to victory for Saturday’s 7:30 p.m. kickoff:
1. Reclaim Control of the Clock and Kickstart the Offense
Clemson’s offense struggled to sustain drives in Week 1, maintaining possession for just 39.75% of the game while opponents controlled 60.25%. Averaging just 145.0 total yards per game—including 105.0 passing yards and 40.0 rushing yards—the offense must establish rhythm early to keep its defense off the field.
2. Plug the Gaps in the Rushing Defense
Defensively, Clemson allowed an overwhelming 309.0 rushing yards per game and 5.3 yards per rush attempt. Opponents controlled the ground game with 58.0 rushing attempts per contest. Stopping the run on early downs and forcing obvious passing situations will be critical to resetting the defense.
3. Shore Up Pass Protection
Pass protection was a primary issue in the opener, as Clemson suffered a 15.38% quarterback sack rate. To improve on a modest 4.8 yards per pass attempt, the offensive line must provide adequate protection and eliminate backfield breakdowns.
4. Fix Third-Down Conversion Discrepancies
Third downs were completely one-sided in Week 1. Clemson converted on only 7.69% of its third-down chances while allowing opponents to convert at a 68.75% rate. Converting third-and-short opportunities and making key stops will be vital to keeping the home crowd engaged and building momentum.
5. Leverage Discipline and Penalty Advantages
One notable strength for Clemson was discipline on the field. Clemson averaged 5.0 penalties for 41.0 yards per game, whereas opponents accumulated 6.0 penalties for 75.0 yards (averaging 12.5 yards per penalty). Playing clean football while taking advantage of opponent mistakes will provide much-needed field position advantages.
