No. 25 Clemson looks to get past critics and beat tough opponent Appalachian State

CLEMSON, S.C. — Amid the discontent and the angst, the criticism and the demands for change, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said he is focused on one thing — getting the 25th-ranked Tigers to reach their potential.

The playoffs kick off this week on Saturday night with a match against Appalachian State.

It was an uncomfortable week for Swinney and the Tigers after they were crushed in the second half of a 34-3 loss to top-ranked Georgia, Clemson’s worst regular-season loss since a 51-14 home loss to Florida State and Jameis Winston in 2013.

“I know there’s a lot of frustration and disappointment, and no one feels it more than us,” Swinney said. “But I think we’ve got a great season ahead of us.”

Swinney knows Clemson (0-1) can’t sleep on Appalachian State (1-0) because their chances of making the expanded, 12-team College Football Playoff are in jeopardy. Appalachian State has won the AP Top 25 in each of the last three seasons, beating No. 18 James Madison last year, beating No. 6 Texas A&M in 2022 and beating No. 21 Coastal Carolina in 2021.

“It’s what they do,” Swinney said. “It’s woven into App State’s DNA.”

Championship success has been woven into Swinney’s 17-strong stint at Clemson. The Tigers have won seven Atlantic Coast Conference titles and two national championships from 2015-2022.

But the Tigers finished last season with a 9-4 record, their worst season since Swinney’s second full season in 2010 (6-7). He faced constant criticism for his lack of interest in signings to bolster his roster, and he hoped a strong showing against the Bulldogs, who are seeking their third national title in four seasons, would spark a special season.

Instead, he will try to find a way for the Tigers to recover from their loss to Georgia.

“Sometimes you get your ass kicked, like we did,” he said. “But we have to move on, we have to learn from this.”

App State CFP Hopes

Appalachian State also has CFP hopes. The Sun Belt Conference favorites are hoping for a strong season to earn a spot in the Group of Five of the 12-team field. A win at Clemson would certainly get them noticed.

The Mountaineers have split wins in their last six games against Power Four opponents, beating Texas A&M, South Carolina and North Carolina since 2019. Coach Shawn Clark wants his team to keep the momentum going after a 38-10 win over East Tennessee in the opener.

“This game won’t be bigger than the ETSU game,” Clark said. “We have a job to do.”

Getting Started with Mafah

It was a big moment in the offseason when top running back Phil Mafah bypassed the pros to return to Clemson. Still, the 230-pound Mafah struggled to get going in the opening loss to Georgia, holding on for 59 yards on 16 attempts. Mafah needs to be the focal point this week if Clemson is to pick up its first win of the season.

Watch out for Aguilar

If Appalachian State has a special year, count on quarterback Joey Aguilar to be a big part of it. Aguilar, a senior from California, set single-season school records in passing yards (3,757), offensive yards (4,002) and touchdowns (13) last season.

He was named the Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year in the preseason and got off to a great start in last week’s 38-10 win over East Tennessee, throwing for 326 yards and two passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns.

Moore and Wesco to see more action

Clemson’s two most anticipated freshmen, wide receivers TJ Moore and Bryant Wesco, will likely get more playing time this week than they did in their college debut against Georgia.

Moore is a five-star wideout from Florida who has been snapped just once after a strong camp. Wesco, a four-star, also caught a pass against the Bulldogs. One or both of them need to make an impact this season.

“These guys are going to continue to improve and get more opportunities,” Swinney said.

We are approaching Bowden

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney is three wins away from passing the late Bobby Bowden for the most wins in the ACC. Bowden had 173 wins for the Seminoles during their time in the ACC. Swinney became the Tigers’ winningest coach last season, passing the late Frank Howard.

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