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Clemson football vs. Louisville: Kick time, TV channel, injury report, weather

chapel fowler
·6 min read

After an off week, the Clemson football team enters the stretch run of its 2024 season with a home night game against a conference opponent.

Here’s your gameday guide for the No. 11 Tigers’ meeting with Louisville.

Clemson vs. Louisville game, TV info

Clemson vs. Louisville Vegas odds

Clemson is a 10-point home favorite against Louisville on Saturday, according to the VegasInsider consensus betting line. That two-score spread is the closest for a Tigers game since they closed as a 10.5-point underdog to No. 1 Georgia in Week 1.

Since losing to Georgia, Clemson has been favored by at least 16.5 points in all of its past six games and at least 20 points on three occasions. Louisville, which is unranked but receiving votes in both major polls, has forced Vegas’ hand.

Weather forecast for Clemson, SC

Expect a crisp fall night in Death Valley. According to Weather.com’s 10-day forecast, Clemson will see a high of 79 degrees on Saturday afternoon. Sunset is around 6:35 p.m. (an hour before kickoff) and temperatures will drop to 59 degrees at night.

Weather is “partly cloudy,” with light winds and a 23% chance of rain.

Oct 19, 2024; Clemson, South Carolina, USA; Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney, center, welcomes fans during Tiger Walk prior to the game against the Virginia Cavaliers at Memorial Stadium.
Oct 19, 2024; Clemson, South Carolina, USA; Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney, center, welcomes fans during Tiger Walk prior to the game against the Virginia Cavaliers at Memorial Stadium.

Top storylines for the game

  • This is Clemson’s last game before the first 12-team College Football Playoff rankings release. The CFP committee will release weekly rankings starting next Tuesday (Nov. 5) and continuing through Selection Sunday on Dec. 8. It’ll be interesting to see what the CFP thinks (initially) of a Clemson team that enters this weekend squarely in contention for a spot in the expanded 12-team playoff — whether as the ACC champion, or as an at-large team. The fact fans can even anticipate an initial CFP ranking speaks to the contrast between Clemson’s 2023 and 2024 seasons. When the first ranking of 2023 came out, the Tigers were in a freefall at 4-4 and 2-4 in the ACC.

  • The Tigers insist they’re focused on Louisville rather than any long-term goals, though, and it’s for good reason. After making the ACC title game last year, the Cardinals have proven to be a tough out. Their three losses have all come by a single possession to teams currently ranked in the AP Top 25 with a combined record of 22-2 right now (Miami, Notre Dame and SMU). Louisville is third in the ACC in total offense behind Miami and Clemson and averages 36.6 points per game. The Cardinals have certainly earned the best point spread (+10.5) of any Clemson opponent since UGA.

  • On the injury front, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said the Tigers are in “as good of a spot as we’ve been in a while” coming out of a bye week. Players who missed time earlier this year, such as star defensive end Peter Woods, are back to full health. Backup defensive linemen Vic Burley and Stephiylan Green are available after recent absences, too. The only major player whose status is publicly up in the air as of right now: true freshman receiver Bryant Wesco Jr. (ankle), who’s been limited in practice this week and has been labeled day to day. Receiver Tyler Brown (ankle) has been ruled out.

  • Coach Jeff Brohm’s Cardinals are trying to do something no team has done in 11 years: Beat Clemson at home in a night game. The Tigers have won 22 straight night games at Memorial Stadium dating back to a loss to Florida State in October 2013, and they’re 25-3 overall in night games in Swinney’s tenure. The Tigers are 3-0 in primetime this season and 2-0 in home night games.

Oct 25, 2024; Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA; Louisville Cardinals quarterback Tyler Shough (9) passes the ball against the Boston College Eagles during the first half at Alumni Stadium.
Oct 25, 2024; Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA; Louisville Cardinals quarterback Tyler Shough (9) passes the ball against the Boston College Eagles during the first half at Alumni Stadium.

Clemson vs. Louisville players to watch

  • Clemson QB Cade Klubnik: The stretch run begins for Clemson’s junior starter and budding Heisman Trophy candidate. Klubnik is currently tied for fourth nationally in passing TDs (20) and seventh in touchdowns responsible for (24).

  • Clemson S R.J. Mickens: A fifth-year veteran at free safety, Mickens has started all seven games and is tied for second on the team with 40 total tackles

  • Louisville QB Tyler Shough: Seventh-year veteran quarterback has four games of 300-plus passing yards this season and one of the country’s most talented freshman running backs behind him in Isaac Brown

  • Louisville CB Quincy Riley: Overlooked by Clemson and South Carolina in high school, this Columbia native leads the Cardinals secondary and is considered a top corner prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft

Clemson football 2024 schedule

Clemson football 2024 depth chart

As of Oct. 28

Offense

QB: Cade Klubnik (Christopher Vizzina)

RB: Phil Mafah (Jay Haynes OR Keith Adams Jr.)

Outside WR: Antonio Williams OR T.J. Moore (Cole Turner)

Slot WR: Tyler Brown OR Troy Stellato (Misun Kelley)

Outside WR: Bryant Wesco Jr. OR Adam Randall (Cole Turner)

TE: Jake Briningstool (Olsen Patt-Henry)

LT: Tristan Leigh OR Collin Sadler (Elyjah Thurmon)

LG: Marcus Tate OR Collin Sadler (Trent Howard)

C: Ryan Linthicum (Harris Sewell)

RG: Walker Parks (Trent Howard)

RT: Blake Miller (Collin Sadler)

Defense

DE: Peter Woods (Jaheim Lawson)

DT: Payton Page OR Tré Williams (Vic Burley)

DT: DeMonte Capehart OR Tré Williams (Stephiylan Green)

DE: T.J. Parker (Cade Denhoff)

Strongside LB: Wade Woodaz (Jamal Anderson)

Middle LB: Wade Woodaz (Sammy Brown OR Dee Crayton)

Weakside LB: Barrett Carter (Sammy Brown OR Dee Crayton)

CB: Avieon Terrell (Shelton Lewis)

SS: Kylon Griffin OR Tyler Venables (Ricardo Jones)

FS: R.J. Mickens (Tyler Venables)

Nickelback: Khalil Barnes (Shelton Lewis)

CB: Jeadyn Lukus (Ashton Hampton)

Special teams

PK: Nolan Hauser (Robert Gunn III)

P: Aidan Swanson (Jack Smith)

KO: Robert Gunn III

LS (PK): Holden Caspersen

LS (P): Philip Florenzo

H: Clay Swinney

PR: Antonio Williams

KOR: Jay Haynes (Jay Haynes)