Clemson Tigers Football: Dabo Swinney’s Schedule After Week 9 Bye
The Clemson Tigers are in a spot few expected as they hit their last open date of the 2025 season. Sitting at 3-4 overall and 2-3 in the ACC, there’s no shot at the ACC Championship Game or the College Football Playoff this year.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a shock for a team that opened the season as the favorite to repeat as conference champs and snag another playoff run. Injuries and a lot of up-and-down play have tripped them up, but there’s still a sliver of hope for a strong finish.
Contents
Clemson’s Struggles and Key Injuries
Clemson actually returned more production than any other Division I team this season. Quarterback Cade Klubnik was back, and expectations were sky-high.
But translating all that talent into wins? That’s been a different story. The Tigers’ year took a real hit after a 35-24 home loss to SMU on October 18.
That one stung, and when you pair it with some other tough losses, the championship dreams faded fast. Injuries haven’t helped, either.
Key guys like Klubnik (ankle), wideout Bryant Wesco Jr. (back), left tackle Tristan Leigh (ankle), and left guard Collin Sadler (ankle) have all missed time. Wesco’s out for the year, but Coach Dabo Swinney still sounds hopeful that the others might get back on the field.
Season Overview
It’s been a wild ride—some big wins, some real head-scratchers. Here’s how the 2025 schedule has played out so far:
- Aug. 30: LSU 17, Clemson 10
- Sept. 6: Clemson 27, Troy 16
- Sept. 13: Georgia Tech 24, Clemson 21
- Sept. 20: Syracuse 34, Clemson 21
- Oct. 4: Clemson 38, North Carolina 10
- Oct. 11: Clemson 41, Boston College 10
- Oct. 18: SMU 35, Clemson 24
Upcoming Games and Challenges
With the last open date here, there’s a chance to regroup before November’s gauntlet. The Tigers have to win three of their final five games to make any bowl (just not the CFP), and if they want to keep that streak of nine-plus wins alive for a 15th year, they can’t lose again.
Key Matchups
Here’s who’s up next:
- Nov. 1: vs. Duke (4-3, 3-1) at Memorial Stadium
- Nov. 8: vs. Florida State
- Nov. 14: at Louisville (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
- Nov. 22: vs. Furman
- Nov. 29: at South Carolina (noon ET, ABC or ESPN)
First up, Duke comes to town. They’re 4-3 overall and 3-1 in the ACC, so it’s not exactly a cupcake. Clemson needs this one to get some momentum going again.
Coach Dabo Swinney’s Perspective
Dabo Swinney, ever the optimist, isn’t throwing in the towel. He says the open date is a good chance for the team to get healthy and reset for the last run.
He’s especially crossing his fingers for Klubnik, Leigh, and Sadler to get back. If they do, maybe things start to look up.
Building for the Future
This season hasn’t gone to plan, but there’s already some talk about what’s next. Young players have been thrown into the fire, and that experience could pay off big in 2026.
Fan Support and Community
One thing that hasn’t changed? Clemson’s fans. They just keep showing up, packing Memorial Stadium and making noise, no matter how the season’s gone.
Upcoming Home Games
Three of the last five games are at home, so the Tigers will lean on that crowd. Duke, Florida State, and Furman are coming to Death Valley, and Clemson’s going to need every bit of that home-field edge.
Conclusion
Clemson football hits its final open date of the 2025 season. The Tigers are sitting at 3-4, and honestly, the road ahead doesn’t look easy.
With injuries piling up, they’ll need to find something extra if they want to turn things around. Maybe the fans can help lift them, or maybe a few key players will make it back in time.
It’s possible this could still be a “November to remember.” For more details and the latest updates, check out the original article on Greenville Online.
