The Clemson Tigers, just two years removed from a powerhouse 10-win season and a College Football Playoff appearance, are seriously teetering on the edge. Friday night’s marquee matchup against the Cal Bears, kicking off at 10:30 p.m. ET, is shaping up to be a wild one. Clemson, currently sitting at 2-1, is only a 1.5-point spread favorite, which tells you everything you need to know about where this once-dominant program might be headed. What happened to that dynasty, right?
Clemson’s Roster Decisions Are Causing Headaches
Coach Dabo Swinney’s roster construction decisions have the Tigers trending toward another middling finish in the ACC. Remember those absolutely dominant Clemson teams? Yeah, they feel like a lifetime ago when you see them struggling to cover a tiny spread like this. The energy just isn’t there like it used to be. On the other side, Cal, also 2-1, is riding high on some serious fresh energy. They’ve got an NFL-caliber quarterback in the highly touted Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, who can absolutely sling it with the best of them. Plus, first-year coach Tosh Lupoi is already generating serious excitement around the program with his strong start on the recruiting trail. This isn’t just a late-night game for East Coast insomniacs, this is a statement game for a Cal team looking to prove they’re for real against a Clemson squad fighting tooth and nail to find its identity. Who’s gonna win that battle?
The Midshipmen’s Ground Game Is Relentless
But wait, there’s even more action coming your way, including a clash that should worry any defense in the country. Tune into ESPN at 7 p.m. ET for Navy at UAB, because the Midshipmen are bringing a rushing offense that simply refuses to quit, a relentless ground game that’s just a nightmare to stop. Navy ranks second in the entire country in rushing offense, absolutely bulldozing their way to a ridiculous 376.0 yards per game! And get this: for the last 13 seasons, they’ve ranked outside of the top nine in rushing offense only twice. Think about that kind of consistency! These guys know exactly who they are, and they don’t diverge from it. They run, run, run the ball, and it’s brutally, brutally effective. How do you even prepare for that?
That’s absolutely terrible news for UAB, let’s be real. Their rushing defense ranks a dismal 124th in the country, giving up a whopping 192.0 yards per game. Just look at their last two games: they coughed up 225 rushing yards to Louisiana and then another 201 to Louisiana-Monroe. That’s not just bad, that’s an open invitation for Navy to run all over them for four quarters! The SportsLine Projection Model is even picking Navy -6.5, giving them a 50% chance to cover. Honestly, with those numbers, it feels like UAB is in for a long, long night of trying to tackle what’s coming, and it’s probably not going to end well for them.
Beyond these epic college football showdowns, Friday, Sept. 25, also brings a massive 17-game MLB slate, which means there’s baseball action from morning to night. And don’t forget the No. 5 Indiana Hoosiers hosting Northwestern at 8 p.m. ET, a huge game for them. It’s a packed Friday for sports fans, so grab your triple espresso and enjoy the wild ride, because it’s going to be a good one!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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