CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — N.C. State coach Dave Doeren said he won't let his team's season be defined by one bad early loss to Tennessee. He sure sounds a lot like his Clemson counterpart, Dabo Swinney, after the Tigers were manhandled by Georgia to start the season.
The Wolfpack (2-1) take on the 21st-ranked Tigers (1-1) on Saturday in their Atlantic Coast Conference opener, with both having the chance to live up to their preseason billing that had the schools mentioned in the chase for a league title. Clemson was picked to finish second in the ACC, while N.C. State was selected fourth.
N.C. State fell from the rankings after a 51-10 beatdown to the top-10 Vols on Sept. 7. Worse for the Wolfpack, starting quarterback Grayson McCall left last week's win over Louisiana Tech due to an undisclosed injury and the Coastal Carolina transfer is not expected to play this weekend.
Falling to another ranked opponent could mean another season outside of the ACC title game for the Wolfpack, who always seem to knock on the door without getting through.
The Wolfpack have won two of the last three meetings, including last year, but hasn’t won at Death Valley since 2002.
“We have a lot of players that have played well against Clemson,” Doeren said. “Obviously we need to get the job done down there. That’s something we haven’t done. We’ve been close, close doesn’t get it done.”
Clemson got some of its swagger back in the last game as Cade Klubnik, criticized for a so-so performance in that 34-3 loss to top-ranked Georgia, threw for five touchdowns and ran for two others in a 66-20 win over Sun Belt Conference favorite Appalachian State on Sept. 7.
The Tigers had the first of their two bye weeks this past Saturday and Swinney is ready for his club to take another, important step forward in the ACC.
“This is a big game for both teams as we get into conference play,” he said. “And that's really what it's all about at this point.”
Clemson defensive end Peter Woods came out of the App State win after getting blocked on the knee and limping off the field. Swinney said Woods has not missed practice time and is on the team's depth chart to start against N.C. State.
N.C. State will start freshman CJ Bailey at quarterback with McCall out. Bailey threw for 156 yards with an interception while also running for a score.
“C.J. will start the game and it’s his team,” Doeren said, noting McCall is day to day and the team is taking things slow.
Clemson is a victory away becoming the first ACC program with 800 wins. The Tigers would be the 14th team in the FBS to reach that milestone. Swinney is two victories away from matching the late Florida State coaching great Bobby Bowden for most wins heading an ACC team.
Among N.C. State’s troubles in the Tennessee loss, the struggle to run the ball effectively and control the line of scrimmage stood out. The Wolfpack managed 39 yards on 28 rushes in that game, but improved in the Louisiana Tech game (151 yards on 36 rushes). Doeren said his team his team got better last time out and that's a strong sign moving forward.
Klubnik had career highs with 378 yards passing and five TD throws in the win against Appalachian State. He also ran for two scores. It was a welcome performance after he struggled against Georgia.
“Just to see the explosiveness and the hard work from an off-season,” Klubnik said. “So, to kind of see that come to life was really fun.”
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AP Sports Writer Aaron Beard contributed to this report.
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