Which games will be Clemson’s most challenging in 2024? Ranking the Tigers’ opponents from easiest to toughest (2024)

In between a road date at Pittsburgh and the season-finale against South Carolina, the Tigers will host the in-state Bulldogs from Charleston. Last year, The Citadel finished 0-11 in Maurice Drayton's first season as head coach. Most of the games weren't competitive, with the Bulldogs suffering nine double-digit defeats.

These games are never close and this one won't be either. This will be an opportunity for younger players to get on the field and star players to rest up for a big rivalry game.

Ah yes, Stanford, the school that just about sits in the Pacific Ocean, is now a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Clemson and Stanford have played just one football game in the history of the sport, a Tigers' 27-21 victory in the 1986 Gator Bowl.

The Cardinal enters its second season under head coach Troy Taylor, who was previously at Sacramento State. Stanford went 3-9 in its final season in the Pac-12.

There's a long way to go until the Cardinal is competitive in the ACC. Clemson should lead this one from start to finish, or, coast to coast, if you will. It may not be the prettiest of efforts, however, with marquee contests against NC State (Sept. 21) and Florida State (Oct. 5) on either side of this matchup.

After a 6-6 season in 2022-23, the Mountaineers went 9-5 last season with a bowl win over Miami (OH). Appalachian State has become a model of consistency in the Sun Belt, and this game could be competitive for a little bit. But eventually, this one should turn into a runaway.

This game is in an interesting spot on the schedule, following the Tigers' season-opener against Georgia. Depending on how that goes, the energy could either be at an all-time high, or it could be a little anticlimactic coming off of a bad defeat at the hands of Kirby Smart's Bulldogs.

It is the first home game, and a night game, so it should be a good environment in Death Valley.

The Cavaliers are 6-16 over the last two seasons, and Virginia's win total probably won't see too much of an increase in 2024-25. Former Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott will make his return to Death Valley in what will likely be poor hospitality on the football field.

The Tigers have outscored the Cavaliers 209-74 over the last five meetings, dating back to 2008. Clemson leads the all-time series with Virginia, 40-8-1.

The Tigers should go into the bye week feeling good after this one.

This one ranks as the easiest true-road game of the season. Clemson has dominated the series with the Demon Deacons for a while now, winning each of the last 15 meetings.

On the last trip to Winston-Salem in 2022, Clemson escaped with a 51-45 win over Sam Hartman and Wake Forest. Then-Tigers' quarterback DJ Uiagalelei threw for 371 yards and five scores. Don't expect this one to be like that. The Demon Deacons started last season 3-0 before losing eight of nine down the stretch. Another tough year is likely in store.

The conditions for this one could be questionable. It won't be the raucous environment of the Steelers-Ravens game the next day, but it will be cold, and that could play a factor.

The Panthers aren't projected to be great in 2024-25. Coming off a 3-9 season, Pittsburgh should be improved, but likely fighting for a bowl game as its main goal.

This could be the 'trap' game on Clemson's schedule, coming a week after what will be an emotional affair in Blacksburg against Virginia Tech. This one shouldn't be a problem, but a mid-November game in Pittsburgh could cause problems for a tired, unfocused bunch.

It was hard to place this one, because nobody is really sure what type of team is going to be in Columbia this season. After what seemed to be a progressive 8-5 season two years ago, the Gameco*cks fell well short of expectations last year.

A lot of it will fall on the shoulders of LaNorris Sellers, who South Carolina's program and fans believe will get the program to the next level.

This game couldn't have been put any higher, as of right now. The Gameco*cks aren't a proven commodity in 2024-25, and the teams remaining on the list all have a higher outlook.

But it is a rivalry game, so that adds a different element. Never, ever easy.

Because of how poor the game was, you probably forgot that the Cardinals played for an ACC title last season against Florida State, in the Seminoles' final statement to the CFP committee. I don't thinkLouisvillewill remain in the conversation for a conference championship this season, but they should linger around the top-25 for most of the year.

Not a gimme, but the Tigers should take care of business at home.

Clemson will be on the national stage in Week 1. But then, the Tigers host Appalachian State and have an open date the following week. This will be Clemson's second premier matchup.Grayson McCall leads the offensive in its second year under offensive coordinator Robert Anae. That unit should put up some points this season, but the question mark will be on defense after the departure of linebacker Payton Wilson to the NFL.

This will be a massive early-season matchup for both teams, with the winner having the upper hand down the stretch of the season during the race for a spot in the ACC title.

Clemson has the home-field advantage, which worked in the Wolfpack's favor last season.

You can hear "Enter Sandman" already. After a tough first year, it feels like Brent Pry might be turning a corner with the Hokies' program.

Virginia Tech won seven games in 2023-24, including a 21-point victory over Tulane in the Military Bowl. The Hokies have a favorable schedule, and are likely to be favored in every game other than a few on the calendar. This will be Virginia Tech's biggest home game of the season, and the environment will be harsh, especially in November.

It'll take a lot of grit to get out of Lane Stadium with a W.

If this list was titled 'most important' instead of 'most difficult,' this game would be at the top of the list. There isn't a bigger game in the ACC all season than this one.

The storylines are abundant. Is it the 'Noles time to take their spot atop the conference, or will the Tigers go into Tallahassee and put the sport on notice? DJ Uiagalelei will face off against his old head coach and former program, and his replacement at quarterback.

This game may determine whether or not Clemson makes the CFP. With both likely on their way out of the conference, there won't be many more battles between these two in the ACC. This should be another classic in the series.

Nobody in the country has a harder start to their season than the Tigers. After back-to-back national championships, the Bulldogs failed to win the SEC and missed the CFP.

Kirby Smart and Georgia are hungrier than ever to get back to the top. Atlanta is always a favorable crowd for the Bulldogs, but they haven't performed their best over the years at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. That's specifically against Alabama for the most part, though.

I'm going to frame this game the same way throughout the rest of the offseason — it's more of an opportunity, a benchmark. Not many are expecting Clemson to hang around in this game. If the Tigers compete and fall short, there may be a different conversation around the country regarding the program. If the Tigers win, it will create chaos in the early going of the season.

One thing is for sure — with these two programs hammering away at each other on the recruiting trail, this game could go a long way in determining the edge in the high school ranks.