Nov. 6—CLEMSON — The Tigers aren't overlooking Syracuse for a number of reasons.
Syracuse is 4-4 (2-4 ACC) but is better than its record shows. The Orange won their last two games against North Carolina and then-No. 19 SMU after starting 0-4 in conference play. Their four losses have all come within two possessions or fewer.
Meanwhile Clemson (5-3, 3-2) is only one game better overall and had its season derailed in a 34-21 loss to 'Cuse last season. Make no mistake, this game matters just as much for Clemson as it does for Syracuse.
"This is one of the more physical teams that we'll play, and we certainly know that firsthand because they kicked our teeth in last year in the first half," Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. "We didn't wake up until the third quarter."
Key players
Clemson
Grant Wise, C: Maybe the first and only time the center is a key player in this series, Grant Wise is replacing an injured Harris Sewell at center this week. He's only a freshman. It might sound nerve-wracking to have an inexperienced player move from rotational guard to starting center, but Clemson is high on Wise. Left tackle Brayden Jacobs praised his "raw knowledge." Fellow freshman and starting quarterback Tait Reynolds called him "a monster." Swinney has said Wise is Clemson's center of the future. With Sewell out for the weekend and at least another week after that, the future is now.
Jarvis Green, RB: Green, a senior, has watched his career fly by — mainly because he hasn't seen the field very often. He got minimal touches from 2023-2024 and missed what would've been his biggest season yet in 2025 with a foot injury. Green has been effective in 2026, averaging 3.9 yards per carry on 32 touches, but has been lost in the shuffle of an RB room that started the year with five backs in rotation. Since then, multiple backs have gone down, most recently starter Gideon Davidson. Green will get his first career start this weekend. He's a tough runner who can be effective in short-yardage scenarios, but is he ready to take the starter's share of touches for the first time ever?
Syracuse
Steve Angeli, QB: Angeli is the engine that drives Syracuse. He had the Orange out to a 3-1 start in 2025 and threw for 244 yards and two touchdowns against Clemson before tearing his Achilles in the third quarter. Syracuse lost every game for the rest of the year. So far it's been the same in 2026: Syracuse goes as Angeli does. He's missed two games — losses to Virginia and Louisville — after receiving additional treatment for his injury. He was also benched before a win over Connecticut after throwing five interceptions against Cal and Pitt. Since his return, he's dominated, throwing for 456 yards and three passing touchdowns (plus one on the ground) in the Orange's last two wins.
Umari Hatcher, WR: As Clemson's Reynolds has learned in 2026, a good quarterback can't do much with a struggling receiving corps. Syracuse doesn't have that problem. Hatcher isn't just the most productive pass-catcher in Syracuse's locker room — he's one of the best in the country. His 952 receiving yards ranks fifth in the nation this season despite having fewer catches than each receiver in front of him (besides Oregon State freshman Jesse Legree). He had a down game against SMU, bringing in six catches for 65 yards and no scores. He'll be challenged to bounce back against Clemson's solid secondary.
Key matchup
They won't face off directly, but Clemson and Syracuse's defensive lines will be racing to see which unit can be the most disruptive this weekend.
Both units are top-20 in sacks this season, while each offensive line allows at least two sacks per game. Both defensive fronts are going against mismatches this weekend. Whichever can get to the quarterback more frequently will give its team a better chance of coming away with a win.
Three players make up the bulk of Syracuse's pass rush: Keyshawn Johnson, Tunmise Adeleye and Chris D'Appolonia combine for 15 of the Orange's 23 sacks.
Meanwhile, Will Heldt is by far the dominant pass-rushing force for Clemson. He has seven sacks on the year. Nobody else on the Tigers' roster has more than two.
'Cuse seemingly has the advantage against Clemson's depleted offensive line, but Clemson's defensive line continues to improve each week. It will take the Tigers' best effort yet to be more disruptive than their counterparts.
Key storyline
Clemson's injuries are well documented this week: Wise is in for Sewell. Green is in for Davidson. Gavin Blanchard replaces Elyjah Thurmon at left guard, and Tyler Brown is questionable at receiver.
It's not a favorable situation, but injuries are a part of football. Syracuse's injured list is just as long, albeit with less starters littered throughout.
However, there is one injury scenario that could prove dire for the Orange.
Angeli was listed questionable on this week's report. He's been questionable the last two weeks and played well, so it might be nothing. But there are penalties for falsifying the ACC availability report — if Angeli was 100 percent healthy, he wouldn't be on there.
He'll likely play, but what if he doesn't, or he what if he can't play the whole game? That's where it gets scary: Both of the next men up on the depth chart, Malachi Nelson and Amari Odom, are already ruled out for the game.
Next up after Angeli would be Georgetown transfer Danny Lauter. He was a full-time starter for the Hoyas last year and has completed five passes this season with one touchdown.
Whether it's likely or not, Syracuse better hope Angeli can play the whole game.
Final prediction: Clemson 21, Syracuse 15
Clemson's uptick in offense against FSU wasn't a fluke, and the Tigers prove it against 'Cuse: Reynolds throws for over 200 yards and scores through the air and with his legs. Green doesn't score but is effective when needed, picking up a handful of crucial conversions on third and short throughout the game.
It's not a perfect performance, however: Both teams turn the ball over at least once and are sacked a combined 10 times, which keeps the game from being too high-scoring.
The Tigers lead 21-7 entering the fourth quarter. That's when Angeli — who does play the whole game — flips the switch like 'Cuse has done so many times late in games this season. Clemson's secondary has another week of late lapses and allows a touchdown and 2-point conversion with less than two minutes to go.
After the late scare, Clemson tightens up to close the game, recovering the onside kick and using Green's tough running to drain the clock. The Tigers escape the JMA Wireless Dome with a 6-3 record and four wins in the ACC.
Reach Jackson Castellano at jcastellano@postandcourier.com . Follow him on X @jaxacastellano. Want more Clemson news delivered to your inbox? Subscribe to The Tiger Take.
